Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the National Shipbuilding Office will maximise opportunities for work for UK shipyards in future public procurement competitions.

The refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSbS) sets out the 30-year cross-Government shipbuilding pipeline. The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) will seek to maximise the opportunity for UK industry in this pipeline, in accordance with our international obligations, including by championing UK shipbuilding and ensuring that our procurements deliver on the policy objectives set out in the NSbS. The NSbS also recognises that the value of the shipbuilding sector goes well beyond building hulls and is spread throughout the entire supporting supply chain. The NSO will therefore work to encourage UK content for all parts of the shipbuilding enterprise.

Lastly, for all cross-Government shipbuilding competitions, the Government has set out a clear commitments to delivering on social value. This could include the extent to which they support skills development or supply chain resilience.