National Shipbuilding Strategy

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Excerpts

Wednesday 15th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

I agree with the points that my noble friend makes. As I said in answer to the noble Earl, Lord Minto, that is what we are doing. We are steadily improving the drum beat that my noble friend talks about. We also need to ensure that we have the Navy that we need in the future. It will be a different type of Navy. Of course we will need warships and platforms; that is the point about the common combat vessel. Of course we will need such vessels, but they will launch from them uncrewed vessels above, on the surface of and below the water. When they are integrated on the digital platforms that we will have, they will give us huge capability to defend ourselves, our allies and our partners across the world.

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

My Lords, I was born and brought up very close to the River Tyne, and my family did well from the shipping that went on there. As I grew up, the shipyards were closing. We do not have the capacity in this country that we used to, but we have engineers, maritime designers and electricians, all those who understand the designs that are necessary for maritime security. Does the Minister agree that even if we cannot physically build the ships, we have talents and abilities here that can be sold throughout the world to develop the maritime industry?

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

I agree with the point about the brilliance of our engineers and technicians and our ability to build ships. It would be great to see them supporting shipyards around the world and the building of ships, but I think this House wants to see the re-establishment of our own sovereign capability and that of our own shipyards around the UK to build the ships that we need. That is what the Government are seeking to do, whether in the north-east, Scotland, Wales or England. Only yesterday I met a shipbuilder who is chief executive of a company that is starting to build ships on the Isle of Wight, OCEA. That is the sort of small or medium-sized business that we need to support alongside the big prime contractors. The intention of this Government is to re-establish the UK shipbuilding industry. I think that is an endeavour we can all get behind.