Oral Answers to Questions

Jack Lopresti Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Atherton (Wrexham) (Con)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to create jobs and encourage investment in Scotland’s shipbuilding industry.

[Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Con)]

13. What steps his Department is taking to create jobs and encourage investment in Scotland’s shipbuilding industry.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jack]

I absolutely agree: the shipbuilding industry makes a huge contribution to strengthening the Union. It directly supports UK security and prosperity, and it supports 25,200 jobs across the UK and 7,000 direct jobs in Scotland. I was fortunate to visit BAE Systems in Govan recently and I met the excellent workforce building HMS Glasgow; I am assured that she will be a very fine ship.

[Jack Lopresti]

Does my right hon. Friend share my disappointment that Scotland’s state-owned shipyard could not even compete for a Scottish ferry building contract, and does he note that the Scottish Government’s failure may cost many shipbuilding jobs?

[Mr Jack]

I do share my hon. Friend’s disappointment that the Scottish Government-owned shipyard was unable to compete in the tenders for two new ferries for Scotland. That disappointment is shared by the whole of Scotland, particularly island communities, who are suffering every day as a result of the SNP’s self-inflicted ferry fiasco.