Select Committee · Scottish Affairs Committee

Defence in Scotland

Status: Closed Opened: 30 Jul 2021 Closed: 17 Jan 2024 36 recommendations 108 conclusions 3 reports

Inquiry series The Committee has launched an inquiry series into Defence in Scotland. This began with an inquiry into the military personnel and military estate landscape in Scotland, and continues with ongoing inquiries into military shipbuilding in Scotland and Defence in the North Atlantic and the High North. The North Atlantic and the High North …

Reports

3 reports

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Seventh Report - Defence in Scotland: the North Atlantic an…	HC 1576	21 Jul 2023	28	Responded
Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: military shipbuilding	HC 1096	27 Jan 2023	98	Responded
First Report - Defence in Scotland: military landscape	HC 82	24 Jun 2022	18	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 items

1 Conclusion Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: mi… Rejected

The UK Government’s approach to procuring warships has shifted in recent years, and it is...

The UK Government’s approach to procuring warships has shifted in recent years, and it is no longer the default position that warships will be designed and built fully in the UK, which was of concern to some in the Scottish military shipbuilding sector.

Government response. The MOD disagrees that its approach has shifted away from designing and building warships fully in the UK. They state the DSIS provides flexibility and considers long-term industrial impact, and the Shipbuilding Tsar will maximize UK content where possible.

Scotland Office

6 Conclusion Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: mi… Rejected

The Secretary of State told us that Team UK’s bid for the Fleet Solid Support...

The Secretary of State told us that Team UK’s bid for the Fleet Solid Support contract was “non-compliant” with the terms of the competition but did not give further details. We would welcome further information to help understand the Government’s reasoning.

Government response. The MOD declined to provide further details on why Team UK's bid was non-compliant, citing commercial interests of the bidders.

Scotland Office

20 Conclusion Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: mi… Rejected

The decision to select Team Resolute bid as the preferred bidder for the upcoming order...

The decision to select Team Resolute bid as the preferred bidder for the upcoming order of Fleet Solid Support ships could create a potential gap in the workstream for the Scottish warship industry.

Government response. The MOD disagrees that the Fleet Solid Support contract creates a gap in work for Scottish shipyards, citing ongoing Type 31 and Type 26 frigate construction. They claim delaying the build of Fleet Solid Support ships would put vital capability …

Scotland Office

28 Recommendation Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: mi… Rejected

The Ministry of Defence should publish data on the composition of shipbuilding supply chains, to...

The Ministry of Defence should publish data on the composition of shipbuilding supply chains, to assist understanding of how the UK shipbuilding industry is structured. This should include regional breakdowns so that the extent of local supply chains and industry clusters can be better understood by Government and industry.

Government response. The MOD did not commit to publishing data on the composition of shipbuilding supply chains and instead outlined existing initiatives to understand and improve supply chain resilience.

Scotland Office

59 Recommendation Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: mi… Rejected

Given the ongoing global uncertainties we ask the UK Government to provide annual updates on...

Given the ongoing global uncertainties we ask the UK Government to provide annual updates on the construction of the Type 26 vessels to both Houses of Parliament. We note that the Defence Select Committee has made a similar recommendation, but that the Ministry of Defence has not yet provided such …

Government response. The MOD does not disclose details of losing bids in commercial competitions and states that the FSS contract award resulted from a fair and open competition, supporting the objectives of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

Scotland Office

62 Conclusion Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: mi… Rejected

The decision to select Team Resolute bid as the preferred bidder for the upcoming order...

The decision to select Team Resolute bid as the preferred bidder for the upcoming order of Fleet Solid Support ships could create a potential gap in the workstream for the Scottish warship industry.

Government response. The MOD does not agree that the decision to award the Fleet Solid Support contract to Team Resolute creates a potential gap in the workstream for the Scottish warship industry, citing ongoing construction of Type 31 and Type 26 frigates.

Scotland Office

3 Conclusion Seventh Report - Defence in Scotland: t… Rejected

Commit Ministry of Defence to updating Arctic defence strategy every five years.

The Ministry of Defence should commit to updating its Arctic defence strategy every five years, to reflect the strategic acceleration in the region and to bring it into line with the FCDO’s Arctic Strategy for the whole of Government, which is updated every five years. We hope that, before then, …

Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to update its Arctic defence strategy every five years, stating its 2022 strategy is designed for 10 years and that reviews are conducted regularly, but not on a fixed five-year cycle. It noted the Defence …

Scotland Office

Oral evidence sessions

13 sessions

Date	Witnesses
5 Jun 2023	Brigadier Chris Ordway · Ministry of Defence, Clare Cameron · Ministry of Defence, Rt Hon James Heappey · Ministry of Defence	View ↗
24 Apr 2023	Dr Adam Bower · University of St Andrews, Professor Iain Woodhouse · University of Edinburgh, Professor Jacques Hartmann · University of Dundee	View ↗
27 Mar 2023	His Excellency Sturla Sigurjónsson · Icelandic Embassy, His Excellency Wegger Christian Strømmen · Norwegian Embassy	View ↗
6 Mar 2023	Dr Duncan Depledge · Loughborough University, Dr Marc DeVore · University of St Andrews, Dr Rowan Allport · Human Security Centre	View ↗
6 Dec 2022	Rear Admiral Rex Cox · Ministry of Defence, Rt Hon Ben Wallace · Ministry of Defence, Vice Admiral Paul Marshall CBE · Ministry of Defence	View ↗
14 Nov 2022	Hans Pung · RAND Europe, Professor Keith Hartley · University of York	View ↗
5 Sep 2022	Ben Carpenter Merritt · Babcock, Gordon McGuinness · Skills Development Scotland, Ivan McKee MSP · Scottish Government, Professor John Howie MBE · Babcock International, Rory McGregor · Scottish Government, Scott McClelland · Scottish Government, Sir Simon Lister · BAE Systems Naval Ships	View ↗
12 Jul 2022	Ben Carpenter Merritt · Babcock, Ivan McKee MSP · Scottish Government, Oliver Waghorn · BAE Systems, Professor John Howie MBE · Babcock International, Sir Simon Lister · BAE Systems Naval Ships	View ↗
13 Jun 2022	Ian Waddell · The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), Kevin Craven · ADS Group - Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space, Richard Powell OBE · Society of Maritime Industries (SMI)	View ↗
21 Mar 2022	Damian Parmenter CBE · Ministry of Defence, David Brewer · Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Sherin Aminossehe · Ministry of Defence, The Baroness Goldie DL · Ministry of Defence	View ↗
7 Mar 2022	Councillor Rod Cavanagh · Fife Council, Fergus Murray · Argyll and Bute Council, Keith Brown MSP · Scottish Government, Kevin McGowan · Scottish Government, Provost Peter Smaill · Midlothian Council, Rhona Gunn · Moray Council, Rory McGregor · Scottish Government	View ↗
21 Feb 2022	Dr Hina Khan · Spire Global Limited, Dr Suzanne Costello · MCS Limited, Jamie Mincher · Glenalmond Group, John Howie MBE · Babcock, Kevin Craven · ADS Group - Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space, Oliver Waghorn · BAE Systems, Stephen McCann · Thales	View ↗
31 Jan 2022	Collette Musgrave · Army Families Federation, Lieutenant General (retd) Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB DL · SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, Maria Lyle · RAF Families Federation, Professor Phillips O'Brien · University of St Andrews, Professor Trevor Taylor · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Sarah Clewes · Naval Families Federation	View ↗

Correspondence

2 letters

Date	Direction	Title
6 Apr 2023	From cttee	Letter to Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence at Ministry of …
7 Feb 2023	To cttee	Letter from Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence at Ministry …