Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 43
43
Acknowledged
In written evidence, the UK Defence Journal set out their understanding of the shipbuilding pipeline...
Conclusion
In written evidence, the UK Defence Journal set out their understanding of the shipbuilding pipeline for BAE Systems and Babcock as of April 2022 (Table 1). 64 BAE Systems (DIS0030) 65 UK Defence Journal (DIS0022) 66 Q2 67 Q3 68 Q12 69 UK Defence Journal (DIS0022); BAE Systems (DIS0030); Q144 20 Defence in Scotland: military shipbuilding Table 1: Projected ‘pipeline’ of work for Scottish shipyards Name Class Location Launch Period HMS Glasgow Type 26 (Batch 1) Glasgow 2020s HMS Cardiff Type 26 (Batch 1) Glasgow 2020s HMS Belfast Type 26 (Batch 1) Glasgow 2020s HMS Birmingham Type 26 (Batch 2) Glasgow 2020s HMS Sheffield Type 26 (Batch 2) Glasgow 2020s HMS Newcastle Type 26 (Batch 2) Glasgow 2020s HMS Edinburgh Type 26 (Batch 2) Glasgow 2030s HMS London Type 26 (Batch 2) Glasgow 2030s HMS Venturer Type 31 Rosyth 2020s HMS Bulldog Type 31 Rosyth 2020s HMS Campbeltown Type 31 Rosyth 2020s HMS Formidable Type 31 Rosyth 2020s HMS Active Type 31 Rosyth 2020s UNKNOWN* Ukrainian Warship Rosyth UNCERTAIN Unknown Type 32 Rosyth 2020s Unknown Type 32 Rosyth 2030s Unknown Type 32 Rosyth 2030s Unknown Type 32 Rosyth 2030s Unknown Type 32 Rosyth 2030s Unknown Type 83** Glasgow 2030s Unknown Type 83 Glasgow 2030s Unknown Type 83 Glasgow 2030s Unknown Type 83 Glasgow 2030s Unknown Type 83 Glasgow 2030s Unknown Type 83 Glasgow 2040s *The status of the plan to order a warship for Ukraine is unknown due to the invasion of the country **Additionally, the listing of six Type 83 Destroyers presumes the Type 45 Destroyers are replaced on a one for one basis. Source: UK Defence Journal (DIS0022) The above list does not cover the whole of the promised 30-year pipeline. If, as the UK Defence Journal notes, fewer than six Type 83 destroyers are ordered the pipeline may not even extend into the 2040s. Professor Trevor Taylor of the Royal United Services Institute, the specialist adviser to this inquiry, noted in his written evidence that Scottish yards which provide the core of military shipbu
Government Response Summary
The MOD fully recognises the importance of maintaining a regular drumbeat of orders across the Shipbuilding industry. The NSbS is clear that we do not want a return to the “boom and bust” cycles of historic Naval demand, but to provide a more sustainable demand signal from Government as a whole, providing the certainty required by industry. The NSO has committed to updating the shipbuilding pipeline at each multi-year Spending Review.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The MOD fully recognises the importance of maintaining a regular drumbeat of orders across the Shipbuilding industry. The NSbS is clear that we do not want a return to the “boom and bust” cycles of historic Naval demand, but to provide a more sustainable demand signal from Government as a whole, providing the certainty required by industry. The 30-year cross-Government Shipbuilding Pipeline of over 150 new vessels aims to do just that. It sets out a huge range of opportunities for UK shipyards and the variety of vessels creates a baseline of volume to encourage industry investment in facilities, infrastructure, innovation and skills. As the pipeline spans a 30-year period, it is subject to change and the details of shipbuilding programmes in the later decades will come with time. Nonetheless, the NSO has committed to updating the shipbuilding pipeline at each multi-year Spending Review to ensure industry has a transparent pipeline of work to plan against. As the committee have noted, Scotland plays a vital role in defence shipbuilding with both Type 26 and Type 31 being built in Scotland. This is enabled by the strength of the local maritime infrastructure, skills, training and academic resources, which creates expertise in both naval and civil shipbuilding and engineering. The recent announcement of the Type 26 Batch 2 contract with BAE Systems reaffirmed the UK Government’s commitment to shipbuilding in Scotland, which will protect over 1,700 jobs in Scotland and more than 4,000 jobs across the wider UK maritime supply chain into the 2030’s. The Royal Navy’s Type 31 vessels are being built by Babcock in Rosyth. New facilities and upgrades to existing site infrastructure are being delivered at the shipyard. The New Assembly Hall has cost £31.5 million, which is part of a £60 million investment in Rosyth, in addition to the circa £100 million invested over the last decade. At its height, Babcock has said the programme will employ a workforce of around 1,250 highly-skilled roles in multiple locations throughout the UK, with around 150 new technical apprenticeships to be created. Babcock also envisage that the Design and Build of T31 will support a further 1,250 roles within the wider UK supply chain, including with small and medium enterprises. The Type 83 destroyer will replace the Type 45 destroyers and will be a key part of the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) that will provide area air defence and offensive strike options to the Carrier Strike Group from the mid-2030s. The department will continue to work with industry and will engage at the earliest opportunity to communicate the chosen procurement strategy. Turning to the Type 32 Frigate programme, this remains a key part of the future fleet. Work continues to ensure the programme is affordable in order to deliver the ships the Royal Navy and Marines need. These ships will be UK-built, with the procurement route yet to be determined.