Asked by: James Davies (Conservative - Vale of Clwyd)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to maximise UK content in its future vessel orders.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh set out the 30-year cross-Government shipbuilding pipeline. It is a substantial opportunity to create a baseline of volume to encourage industry investment in facilities, infrastructure, innovation and skills. The National Shipbuilding Office will seek to maximise the opportunity for UK industry in this pipeline, wherever our procurement law and international obligations allow, by championing UK shipbuilding, ensuring that our procurements deliver on the policy objectives set out in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh and creating opportunity for UK shipbuilders wherever possible.
In addition, for Ministry of Defence (MOD) vessels a minimum of 20% weighting for Social Value will be applied to ensure our investments leave a lasting legacy. MOD retains the right, subject to National security needs, to commission ships to be built in UK yards as we have done with type 26 and type 31.
The Refresh also recognises that the value of the shipbuilding sector goes well beyond just building hulls and is spread throughout the entire supporting supply chain. The National Shipbuilding Office will therefore work to encourage UK content for all parts of the shipbuilding enterprise, including: refit and repair, the through-life support to sustain our ships; the battle-winning technologies, systems and sub-systems which underpin our capability; and across the supply chain.
Asked by: James Davies (Conservative - Vale of Clwyd)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the National Shipbuilding Office to work in partnership with industry.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) is already working closely with industry and will continue to do so through the implementation of the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh. The key forum to do this will be through the Shipbuilding Enterprise for Growth (SEG), an integrated and collaborative community with membership from across the UK shipbuilding enterprise. The SEG will be co-chaired by the NSO's Chief Executive Officer and the Director of the Society of Maritime Industries. It will identify opportunities for members to work together, outside of any competitive procurement processes, to take action which will deliver tangible improvements to the shipbuilding enterprise. In addition, the first industry secondee has recently joined the NSO, with further secondees expected to join in the near future.
Asked by: James Davies (Conservative - Vale of Clwyd)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's plans are for a new Medium Lift Helicopter.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 October 2021 to Question 56262 from the hon. Member for Portsmouth South (Mr Morgan).