Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Atherton Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Iain Stewart]

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising that point. If he cares to send me the details of that firm, I will certainly follow that up with my colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and make sure that the scheme has been working as it should have been.

[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.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)]

The UK Government’s commitment to shipbuilding in Scotland is unwavering. Over the past 15 years, we have delivered: six Type 45 destroyers, launched from the Clyde; two aircraft carriers, assembled at Rosyth; five offshore patrol vessels, built on the Clyde; and we have ensured a bulging order book for the future—eight Type 26 frigates have been ordered, with three of them already under construction on the Clyde, and five Type 31 frigates have been ordered and are destined for Rosyth.

[Sarah Atherton]

I am pleased that the first deal has been cut for the Type 31 frigate, HMS Venturer, which is being built at Rosyth. With the fleet’s construction due to support 1,250 jobs and 150 apprenticeships, does my right hon. Friend agree that such projects are integral to the Union?

[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.