Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Defence Secretary on the approval of the Shared Outcome Fund bid for the creation of a National Skills Academy for Maritime (Shipbuilding).

The Chancellor is in regular contact with Cabinet colleagues, including the Defence Secretary.

On 16 March 2021, the Defence Secretary outlined in his speech to the Society of Maritime Industries that HM Government is currently refreshing the National Shipbuilding Strategy, in order to deliver a more successful and sustainable UK shipbuilding enterprise.

Some of the most difficult social, environmental and economic challenges sit across the areas of responsibility of multiple public sector organisations.

Spending Round 2019 and Spending Review 2020 announced a combined £400 million for the Shared Outcomes Fund to fund pilot projects to test innovative ways of working across the public sector, with an emphasis on thorough plans for evaluation. The assessment process for the second round of funding is ongoing.