David Cameron has pledged to appoint a new envoy to ramp up the UK’s production of weapons and ammunition.
In an interview with Sky News, the UK foreign secretary was asked how Britain could, without passing legislation, compel companies such as BAE Systems PLC and Thales SA to increase production at the required rate and scale.
He said: ‘There is a specific munitions strategy of £10 billion which will do exactly what you are talking about the ramping up of production.’
‘But crucially I think we can go further than that in terms of a specific defence envoy with the ability from the prime minister to go out and make sure we are doing those multi-year deals with the defence suppliers because we need to not only provide more weapons to Ukraine, we need to build up our own stocks.
‘So this is very important, it is a national priority. The prime minister is giving the lead and I think the industry will respond.’
Cameron is on a two-day trip to Ukraine and met President Volodymyr Zelensky to reiterate the UK’s support for the country.
The UK government recently announced a commitment to increase overall defence spending to at least 2.5% of GDP. It also committed to spending at least £3 billion a year in military support for Ukraine.
Cameron indicated in the interview with Sky that the envoy would be able to approach industry and commit to funding multi-year contracts for munitions, which could drive down cost.
‘It is possible to go to the defence contractors and say to them, ’You are not going to get the price you might have hoped for year after year after year because we are going to make a contract with you over the coming years to make sure we replenish our ammunition, our artillery, our long-range fires, our missiles’ those crucial things vital for Ukraine but also vital for our own defence.’
In terms of why the government would need to appoint a specific envoy to this role, Cameron said: ‘You need, I think, to have that direct line to the prime minister to make sure we are making this the national priority it clearly is.’
BAE Systems shares were 2.6% higher at 1,364.50 pence each on Friday afternoon in London, while Thales shares were 1.7% higher at €161.35 each in Paris.
By Helen Corbett, PA Political Correspondent
Press Association: News
source: PA
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