Recommendation 58

The award of the contract to build five additional Type 26 frigates to BAE Systems is welcome news for Scottish shipbuilding, and importantly continues the shipbuilding ‘drumbeat’ into the medium-term. We note that, partly as a consequence of global challenges, the first batch of Type 26 vessels has faced delays and increased costs. 90 HC Deb, 15 November 2022, Col. 16WS [Commons Written Ministerial Statement] 91 Q58 92 Ministry of Defence, Press release: British shipyard awarded £4.2 billion to build Royal Navy ships, 15 November 2022 93 Q167 94 HC Deb, 20 November 2022, Col 23WS [Written Ministerial Statement] 95 HC Deb, 20 November 2022, Col 23WS [Written Ministerial Statement] 96 Q236 97 Defence Committee, Third Report of Session, “We’re going to need a bigger Navy”, HC 168, p. 56 Defence in Scotland: military shipbuilding 25