Warships: Shipbuilding
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with representatives of the Scottish shipbuilding industry on the impact of changes to Royal Navy procurement plans on investment and workforce retention.
Answered by Luke Pollard
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has committed to a pipeline of work in Type 26 and Type 31 construction which will employ the prime Scottish shipyards (BAE Systems and Babcock) well into the 2030s, securing thousands of jobs and millions of pounds of economic benefit to the local areas.
Delivering world-leading anti-air warfare capability for the Royal Navy has always been a priority for this department as set out in the Strategic Defence Review and the DIP. The Type 83 destroyer was an early-stage concept, and no decisions had been made on where and how it would be delivered.
The DIP made commitments to the Common Combat Vessels and Type 9x autonomous vessels as part of the hybrid navy. This work presents a substantial and exciting opportunity for Scottish shipyards, boatyards and technology companies to sustain and create jobs across the shipbuilding enterprise and supply chain.
The Government is focused on providing a clear and transparent pipeline of work in support of the Royal Navy and as a spur to sectoral growth.
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