READING West and Mid-Berkshire MP Olivia Bailey has welcomed the announcement of £15 billion investment in the nuclear warhead programme at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).
The announcement came as part of the government’s Strategic Defence Review results laid out on Monday, June 2.
Ministers say the investment will support the modernisation of infrastructure at the Aldermaston site and will support more than 9000, in addition to thousands of jobs in the defence supply chain in Reading West, Mid Berkshire, and across the UK.
It comes alongside the news that the government will be making a further £5 billion investment in the UK’s defence sector.
Ministers announced that it is set to see a boost to funding to defence technology, also as part of the SDR.
The funding will see investment of more than £4 billion into autonomous systems, such as drones, and a further billion for ‘Directed Energy’ weapons.
Speaking in the House of Commons chamber, Olivia said that the £15 billion investment will be “crucial for national security” and “transformational for Reading West and Mid Berkshire”.
She also invited the Defence Secretary on a visit to one of the AWE sites in her constituency to learn more about the work being done there to keep the country safe.
This includes a so-called ‘DragonFire’ weapon, a high-power laser which is set to be fitted to a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer ship in 2027.
The weapon is set to be the first of its type to be used by a European country, while the Type 45 destroyer will also be the first of its type in British Service.
It’s expected that the move, aimed at ‘boosting’ frontline capabilities, and create 300 skilled jobs across the country.
It comes following the Strategic Defence Review carried out by the former Labour Defence Secretary Lord Robertson, which found that the UK would not be well equipped to defend itself against countries such as Russia or China.
It also warned that the UK is under daily attacks on important national systems and infrastructure.
In the wake of these findings, the review recommended the prioritisation of a transformation of defence forces, particularly including a shift towards autonomous, uncrewed systems.
The plan will also see the production of as many as a dozen new attack submarines for the Royal Navy, up to 7,000 new long-range weapons, at least six new munitions factories.
It also includes over £1 billion of investment to improve military housing and more than £1 billion for technology to steer battlefield engagements.
Overall, all 62 of the reviews recommendations were accepted.
Despite the announcement, it is currently unclear how the funding will be found: the government had aimed to keep spending on defence to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product, but the proposed plans would require a jump of at least half a percent.
Olivia Bailey said: “I am proud to represent a constituency that is so vital to this country’s national security, with thousands of people working in the defence sector to keep us safe.
I am therefore absolutely delighted by today’s announcement, which will support over 9000 jobs in Reading West and Mid Berkshire and boost our local economy.
This is a significant investment in this country’s national security and reinforces my constituency’s place at the very forefront of the UK defence sector.”
In a statement, AWE said: “The UK Defence Spending Review, announced by the Prime Minister, outlines significant investment in nuclear security, including the modernisation of infrastructure at AWE, supporting more than 9,000 jobs and thousands more across the UK supply chain.
“We welcome the commitment to continue investing in our work at AWE which enables the UK to maintain its existing nuclear deterrent and develop the next generation of capability.
“AWE’s nuclear warhead programme features some of the most advanced and sensitive science, engineering and manufacturing facilities in the UK.
“Both the UK’s sovereign warhead programme and the UK’s conventionally-armed submarine fleet will make Britain and NATO safe for decades to come.”
