Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guto Bebb and Mike Amesbury

Monday 11th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)]

5. What steps he is taking to support the UK defence industry.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Guto Bebb)]

We are committed to supporting a thriving and internationally competitive defence sector. We have published our national shipbuilding strategy and refreshed our defence industrial policy, and we are developing a combat air strategy. In March, the Defence Secretary announced he had invited my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) to conduct a review of the defence contribution to prosperity, and I look forward to the publication of that report shortly.

[Mike Amesbury]

The fleet solid support ship contract said that there would be the potential to bring jobs and work to shipyards across the UK. Does the Minister not agree that those ships should be built in Britain, and will he make this a UK-only competition?

[Guto Bebb]

I have consistently argued that the national shipbuilding strategy should be supported across the House, as it offers real support for our shipbuilding industry. We designate warships as a sovereign capability to be built in the UK. Other ships are open to international competition, but I am confident that there will be British yards putting in bids for that work.