Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support small, independent ship builders.

In his role as Shipbuilding Tsar the Secretary of State for Defence is firmly committed to reinvigorating the entire UK shipbuilding enterprise, including small shipbuilders. He is working closely with colleagues across Government to support the sector. For example, on 22 March 2021 the Department for Transport launched the £20 million Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. This will fund feasibility studies and initial technology trials in clean maritime technologies, such as the UK design and development of zero emission vessels, which will help put the UK shipbuilding supply chain at the forefront of the global green industrial revolution.

The Government has also announced its intent to publish an updated National Shipbuilding Strategy. This will set out the how the Government will create the conditions for success for all parts of the shipbuilding enterprise.