Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of new vessels, intended to support operations at HM Naval Base Clyde, procured by Serco as part of the Royal Navy harbour and support craft element of the Defence Maritime Services Next Generation programme may be built in China.

Vessels being procured as part of the Defence Marine Services-Next Generation In-Port Services will not be built in China and future maintenance of the vessels will take place in the UK.

This Government is stepping up our support for UK shipbuilders. We are looking closely at the subcontracting supply chain as part of our Shipbuilding and Maritime Technology Action Plan, which will set out our plans to ensure that we are maximising our use of UK industry as an engine for growth.