Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will announce preferred bidders for (a) Type 31e frigates and (b) fleet solid support ships.
For the position on the Type 31 Frigate programme, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Frank Field) on 13 May 2019 to Question 251904.
In respect of the Fleet Solid Support ships, subject to normal approvals, we anticipate that a design and build contract will be awarded in 2020. An announcement will be made in due course.