(Secretary of State for
Defence): I have today published Sir John Parker's
review of the implementation of the National Shipbuilding
Strategy. I am very grateful for Sir John's efforts in producing
this review and are delighted that he has identified so much
positive progress. Sir John noted how Defence has embraced the
Strategy with enthusiasm and evident cultural change. A copy of
the review has been placed in the Library of the House and it is
available on GOV.UK.
To build on the success and progress we have made so far, this
Government is committed to reinvigorating British shipbuilding
industry for both the civil and military sectors and investing in
the next generation to ensure a pipeline of skills for the
future. That is why the Prime Minister has appointed me to act as
the Shipbuilding Tsar on behalf of this Government, to better
realise the potential that this sector can offer across the four
Home Nations and to reinvigorate UK shipbuilding. This role
brings together other government departments to shape policies
and strategies. As Shipbuilding Tsar, I will work closely with my
colleagues across Government to bring together the brilliant work
already being done, and to ensure British shipbuilding thrives.
A significant success already delivered by this key Strategy and
Sir John’s recommendations is the Type 31 preferred bidder
announcement to Babcock with contract award due by the end of the
year. This major milestone demonstrates a transformation in the
way this Department can deliver a rigorous warship acquisition
programme securing the best capability for our Armed Forces and
extraordinary value for money for the taxpayer. It is an exemplar
of what Sir John Parker envisaged and has shown that the MOD can
deliver contracts with a grip on content, specification, design
and pace.
Sir John also acknowledged the impressive export success of the
Type 26 which has already been selected as the baseline design to
deliver nine Hunter class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy
and up to 15 Canadian Surface Combatants for the Royal Canadian
Navy. We will continue to build on this success and work
alongside the Department for International Trade to deliver a
competitive Naval Export Plan. This will identify and strengthen
opportunities for British shipbuilding and the wider supply
chain.
Across Government, a huge amount of work is underway to review
the pace and nature of the forward warship programme and to
understand the skills needed to design and deliver these ships
and their systems. We are already working collaboratively with
industry to align these priorities and ensure we maintain the
industrial base required to deliver future capability and
platforms for our Armed Forces.
