Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Friday, 10 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. It was answered by Blair McDougall (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 October 2025 on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade.

Industry: National Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 12 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made on (a) identifying, (b) nurturing and (c) protecting sovereign areas of strength in the UK’s (i) industrial, (ii) scientific and (iii) technological base.

Answer: The Government’s Industrial Strategy identified the frontier industries where the UK will prioritise its interventions across its 8 growth-driving sectors, which have all published dedicated sector plans developed with business and sector experts. Our Digital and Technology Sector Plan outlined how we will build sovereign capability in strategic technologies, including launching the Sovereign AI Unit with £500m in new funding, and investing £670m in Quantum computing to secure UK leadership. Across our industrial base, DBT’s newly established supply chain centre will review key inputs and determine where action such as domestic capability building is required to protect our strategic strengths.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 79179
Session: 2024-26
Related items: National Security Strategy 2025: Security for the British people in a dangerous world
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects: Industry National security Technology Science
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk