Shipbuilding on the Clyde Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Shipbuilding on the Clyde

Steven Paterson Excerpts
Monday 25th April 2016

(7 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Philip Dunne Portrait Mr Dunne
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I encourage the hon. Gentleman to spend a little more time in the yards on the Clyde to understand how components and systems are an integral part of the capability of building a complex warship. Fabrication is an important part, but much of the value and content comes from introducing weapons command and control systems, which are not built on the Clyde. Fabrication is done there, as is integration, and that will continue to be undertaken there.

Steven Paterson Portrait Steven Paterson (Stirling) (SNP)
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On 4 April 2013, the Prime Minister said that Scottish defence jobs were

“more secure as part of the United Kingdom.”

Does the Minister realise how ridiculous that now sounds?

Philip Dunne Portrait Mr Dunne
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I have to repeat to the hon. Gentleman that we have committed to build eight Type 26 complex warships on the Clyde. Had the people of Scotland voted for an independent future, we would not have made that commitment.