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.

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.