§ 29. Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons why Harland and Wolff Limited, Belfast, has not been considered suitable to tender for orders to build warships.
§ Mr. SpeedHarland and Wolff's facilities, technical services and personnel structure have been optimised since modernisation for the production of large merchant vessels. The yard is therefore no longer suitable for warship building which has become an increasingly complex and specialised task. However, Harland and Wolff's capacity for building commercial type vessels is well-recognised and the yard will continue to be invited to tender for the construction of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and other Ministry of Defence vessels for which it has the capability.