Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fleet Solid Support Ships: Invitation to Tender

Monday 7 December 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial specification for Fleet Solid Support Ships has changed due to better understanding of the carrier strike group deployment.
  • The Ministry has had two rounds of market engagement for the Fleet Solid Support Ships and may conduct additional rounds.
  • Germany and France are increasing their defence budgets, with Germany planning to raise spending by 10 billion to 12 billion over the next few years.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Spellar Lab
Defence
Context

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions argued for bringing forward defence orders to help the industry through the economic crisis, particularly in regional areas. The Navy carrier group requires fleet support ships with specifications already available from previous bidding rounds.

Question

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions has argued forcefully for defence orders to be brought forward to help our industry through the economic crisis, especially in our regions and nations. The Navy carrier group needs the fleet solid support ships, and the Department has the specifications from the previous bidding round. It is a project that is really shovel or welding-ready, so when is the Secretary of State going to get off his backside and start ordering these ships?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The specification has changed because we now understand more about the carrier strike group and how it will be deployed. It is on track, and we have had two rounds of market engagement and may wish to do more. The supply chain is busy with orders, and I want to ensure this competition is launched and concluded successfully.

Partly answered

Not addressed: When the Secretary of State will start ordering the fleet solid support ships for the Navy carrier group

How: The Specification Has Changed, We Have Had Two Rounds Of Market Engagement

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Q2 Khalid Mahmood Lab
NHS Defence
Context

The Ministry of Defence has approved funding for the defence industry. The FSS and other shovel-ready projects could provide a significant boost to the industry by retaining jobs and creating new ones.

Question

The country has a vaccine for covid-19, and it will be rolled out as a matter of urgency to save lives. The Ministry of Defence has had approval for funding the defence industry. Will the Minister roll out the FSS and other shovel-ready defence projects now, not wait until summer, to give a real shot in the arm to the defence industry, retain thousands of jobs, create new jobs and apprenticeships for technology graduates, support British workers, and use the springboard of the British defence industry to lead the country out of this covid recession?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The hon. Gentleman may be referring to the CSEU report on shovel-ready projects, which was praised for its advice. Many of these projects are already ongoing, and I remind him that Germany is increasing spending by €10 billion to €12 billion over the next few years, while France has an extra €1.5 billion planned. In comparison, the UK's £24 billion investment in defence over the next few years is the biggest single boost to defence in 30 years and will benefit British firms.

Not addressed: Rolling out the FSS and other shovel-ready defence projects now instead of waiting until summer

How: Referenced Germany'S And France'S Spending Increases, Emphasized Uk'S £24 Billion Investment

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