Select Committee · Scottish Affairs Committee

Defence in Scotland

Status: Closed Opened: 30 Jul 2021 Closed: 17 Jan 2024 43 recommendations 101 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 … Show more

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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. Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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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. Read more

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

Government response AI summary
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.
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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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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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 AI summary
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.
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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, … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 Command Paper had already been …
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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, 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, John Howie MBE · Babcock International, Oliver Waghorn · BAE Systems, 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 · 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 ↗

Who gave evidence

48 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Ben Carpenter Merritt · Head of UK Government Relations Babcock 2
Ivan McKee MSP · Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterpr… Scottish Government 2
John Howie MBE · Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Babcock International 2
Kevin Craven · Chief Executive Officer ADS Group - Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space 2
Oliver Waghorn · Managing Director for Government Relations, Inter… BAE Systems 2
Rory McGregor · Team Leader, New Market Clusters Unit Scottish Government 2
Sir Simon Lister · Managing Director BAE Systems Naval Ships 2
Brigadier Chris Ordway · Head (Military), Euro-Atlantic Security Ministry of Defence 1
Clare Cameron · Director of Euro Atlantic Ministry of Defence 1
Collette Musgrave · Chief Executive Army Families Federation 1
Councillor Rod Cavanagh · Armed Forces and Veterans Community Champion Fife Council 1
Damian Parmenter · Director, Defence & Security Industrial Strategy Ministry of Defence 1
David Brewer · Chief Operating Officer Defence Infrastructure Organisation 1
Dr Adam Bower · Senior Lecturer in International Relations University of St Andrews 1
Dr Duncan Depledge · Lecturer in Geopolitics and Security Loughborough University 1
Dr Hina Khan · Senior Project Manager and UK Stakeholder Engagem… Spire Global Limited 1
Dr Marc DeVore · Senior Lecturer, School of International Relations University of St Andrews 1
Dr Rowan Allport · Deputy Director Human Security Centre 1
Dr Suzanne Costello · Chief Operating Officer MCS Limited 1
Fergus Murray · Head of Economic Development Argyll and Bute Council 1
Gordon McGuinness · Director of Industry and Enterprise Networks Skills Development Scotland 1
Hans Pung · President RAND Europe 1
His Excellency Sturla Sigurjónsson · Icelandic Ambassador to the United Kingdom Icelandic Embassy 1
His Excellency Wegger Christian Strømmen · Norwegian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Norwegian Embassy 1
Ian Waddell · General Secretary The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) 1
Jamie Mincher · Chief Executive Officer Glenalmond Group 1
John Howie MBE · Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Babcock 1
Keith Brown MSP · Cabinet Secretary for Justice Scottish Government 1
Kevin McGowan · Head of Defence Policy Unit Scottish Government 1
Lieutenant General (retd) Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB DL · Chief Executive SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity 1
Maria Lyle · Director RAF Families Federation 1
Professor Iain Woodhouse · Professor of Applied Earth Observation University of Edinburgh 1
Professor Jacques Hartmann · Professor in Law, Dundee Law School University of Dundee 1
Professor Keith Hartley · Emeritus Professor of Economics University of York 1
Professor Phillips O'Brien · Professor of Strategic Studies University of St Andrews 1
Professor Trevor Taylor · Professorial Research Fellow in Defence Management Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 1
Provost Peter Smaill · Midlothian Councillor and Her Majesty’s Forces Ch… Midlothian Council 1
Rear Admiral Rex Cox · CEO National Shipbuilding Office Ministry of Defence 1
Rhona Gunn · Depute Chief Exec (Economy, Environment and Finan… Moray Council 1
Richard Powell OBE · Chair, Maritime Defence and Security Group Council Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) 1
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Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
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 …

Meetings & visits

7 items
DateTypeDetail
10 Jul 2023 Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
12 Jul 2022 Informal meeting · Meeting away from Westminster
6 Jun 2022 Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
24 May 2022 Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
31 Jan 2022 Informal meeting · Room 6
13 Dec 2021 Informal meeting · Virtual meeting
18 Oct 2021 Informal meeting · Virtual meeting