Sunderland calls for wider access to MOD sites for income generating activities such as motorsport

James Sunderland secures a meeting with the Defence Procurement Minister to discuss wider access to MOD sites, for motorsport and other income generating activities.

James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)

Britain’s world-leading motor sports industry is worth at least £10 billion annually to the UK economy. The sport’s governing body, Motorsport UK, has proudly sponsored access to military venues for many years, but despite recently signing the armed forces covenant, that access appears to be diminishing. Will the Minister please agree to meet me, and perhaps the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, to discuss better third-party revenue-generating opportunities for the MOD estate?

The Minister for Defence Procurement (James Cartlidge)

I would of course be delighted to meet my hon. Friend. On the subject of motorsport, I stress to him and the House that the MOD has a brilliant partnership with McLaren, jointly innovating to look at, for example, technology relating to electronic vehicles. I am more than happy to meet him and look into the matter further.

Hansard