Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fleet Solid Support Ship Contract

Monday 20 September 2021 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The contract will go to a UK business as part of a consortium or individually
  • The MOD is working with the entire consortium on this project and four awards of 5 million each were made to firms within the consortium
  • There is great news in British shipbuilding at present including progress on fleet solid support ships and Type 31 vessels

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevan Jones Lab
Defence
Context

The MOD invited international companies to collaborate with UK firms for the fleet solid support ship project. A £5 million design contract was awarded earlier in the year, but the specifics of who received this contract remain unclear.

Question

If he will define the term “UK content” within the fleet solid support ship contract. I have tried numerous times to get answers on these questions and feel that his responses are evasive. May I ask him directly: who holds the design contracts—are they with the consortium or individual companies? Will he confirm that the winning prime contractor will be a UK company?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The contract will go to a UK business as part of a consortium or individually. The MOD is working with the consortium on design work and all awarded contracts are for £5 million each, given to firms within the consortium, which have a UK component.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific definition of 'UK content' and exact nature of design contract recipients (whether individual or consortium)

How: We Are Engaged With The Consortium As A Whole, I Will Come Back On The Precise Point He Makes, As It Is A Fair Question

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Q2 Kevan Jones Lab
Defence
Context

A £5 million design contract was awarded earlier this year. The MOD has been working with a consortium on the project, but details about which companies received these design contracts are not clear.

Question

In spring, international firms were invited to collaborate with UK entities for the fleet solid support ship project. I have previously asked numerous questions and feel that answers are evasive. Can you confirm if the £5 million design contract was awarded to a consortium or individual companies? Will the prime contractor who wins this build contract be a UK company?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The MOD is working with the entire consortium on this project. I would need to check for specifics but can say that four awards of £5 million each were made and these contracts are given to firms within the consortium, all having a UK component.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Exact nature of design contract recipients (whether individual or consortium)

How: I Would Have To Check For The Right Hon. Gentleman On The Finer Points, The Consortium Is Being Appointed To Conduct The Design Work

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Q3 Philip Dunne Con
Defence
Context

Following a successful Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, there are new contracts for British shipbuilders. The National Shipbuilding Office has also been established, along with the AUKUS agreement.

Question

Is it fair of Labour Members to critique this contract given their past calls for UK shipyards to build such ships? Given recent developments including DSEI and the establishment of the National Shipbuilding Office and AUKUS, can you confirm that defence shipbuilding opportunities in Britain have never been greater?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

There is great news in British shipbuilding at present, including progress on fleet solid support ships and Type 31 vessels. The DSEI exhibition saw further contracts awarded to British shipyards, along with the National Shipbuilding Office establishment and AUKUS.

Not addressed: Specific opportunities for defence shipbuilders in Britain

How: There Is An Awful Lot That Is Great Going On, I Was Perhaps Too Kind

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