Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost overrun is on the Type 26 frigate programme; and what steps he is taking to (a) mitigate further (i) delays and (ii) costs in the development of the fleet and (b) reduce the impact of delays on the Royal Navy’s operational capacity.

As confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement released on 2 November 2022 (HCWS352), the Ministry of Defence is forecasting a 12-month delay to the Type 26 Initial Operating Capability from October 2027 to October 2028. The associated cost growth is forecast to be £233 million; an increase of approximately 4.2%.

Investment in new facilities at Govan to increase productivity include a new Shipbuilding Outfit Hall, Shipbuilding Academy and steelwork panel lines. The new Shipbuilding Hall will enable the construction of two ships undercover simultaneously. This will improve schedule performance and the pace of delivery, allowing the time between ship deliveries to be reduced.

This will not result in a capability gap; Type 26 will be a world beating frigate and the class will be delivered in time to take on the anti-submarine warfare duties of the retiring Type 23 ships.