Richard Quigley raised the Isle of Wight's advanced-manufacturing sector in a Commons debate on Thursday, asking how government purchasing could support skilled work and supply chains.
The Government said its advanced manufacturing plan includes £4.3 billion of support and that procurement will be used more deliberately to strengthen British industrial capability.
Ministers also pointed to the expansion of the National Shipbuilding Office and increased defence and maritime investment as opportunities for Wight Shipyard and other businesses on the island.
The response does not award a contract or guarantee orders to any named company. Firms will still need to meet procurement requirements and compete for work where competitions apply.
Quigley's intervention is significant because it places a specific island supply chain inside a national industrial and defence strategy, rather than treating manufacturing support only as a mainland issue.
The practical test will be whether forthcoming contracts are structured so that smaller regional suppliers can bid, invest and create secure skilled employment on the Isle of Wight.
