Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Fourth Report - Defence in Scotland: military shipbuilding
Scottish Affairs Committee
HC 1096
Published 27 January 2023
Recommendations
5
Not Addressed
Para 25
The UK Government should set out its reasoning for selecting Team Resolute as the preferred...
Recommendation
The UK Government should set out its reasoning for selecting Team Resolute as the preferred bidder for building the new order of Fleet Solid Support ships. Specifically, it should confirm whether the bid from Team Resolute offered the lowest price …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government stated that the decision to award the Fleet Solid Support ship contract to Team Resolute did not prioritise short-term savings, that Scottish shipyards are building Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, and that both Harland & Wolff and BMT have sites in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. It does not confirm whether Team Resolute offered the lowest price, citing commercial interests.
Scotland Office
View Details →
Conclusions (3)
56
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Prior to the announcement of the Batch 2 contract, the Defence Secretary informed the House in a Written Ministerial Statement that there would be a 12-month delay to the Batch 1 frigates becoming operational, from October 2027 to October 2028. The cost of the project would therefore grow by 4.2 …
Government Response Summary
The response acknowledges the delay in the Initial Operating Capability date of the first Type 26, HMS Glasgow, due to a number of complex reasons including global challenges, and that work is underway to increase productivity and improve on the revised forecast Initial Operating Capability date.
60
Conclusion
Not Addressed
As discussed in Chapter 2, in November 2022 the MOD took the decision to select Team Resolute as the preferred bidder for the Fleet Solid Support ships contract. The MOD did not select a bid from Team UK, a consortium which included BAE Systems and Babcock.
Government Response Summary
The government defends its decision to award the Fleet Solid Support ship contract to Team Resolute, citing ongoing work in Scottish shipyards, investment in the UK, and adherence to the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
61
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sir Simon Lister of BAE told us that were the FSS vessels not to be built in Scotland it would create a gap in the continuity of orders for workers in the Scottish warship industry, but added that this gap could still be filled by other work: I see continuity …
Government Response Summary
The government defends its decision to award the Fleet Solid Support ship contract to Team Resolute, citing ongoing work in Scottish shipyards, investment in the UK, and adherence to the National Shipbuilding Strategy.