Warship Building (Hansard, 15 July 2002)

§ 21. Mr. Pound
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on building Royal Navy warships in the United Kingdom. [66980]

§ Dr. Moonie
It remains our policy that all warships for the Royal Navy will continue to be built in the United Kingdom. The major programme of new naval procurement that is currently in progress will create or secure several thousand jobs in the United Kingdom shipyards and their ancillary industries throughout the country.

§ 34. John Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on MOD orders for shipbuilding in the United Kingdom. [66994]

§ Dr. Moonie
The Ministry of Defence is undertaking the largest programme of warship building in this country for decades. In the last two years, 15 new warships have been ordered for service with the Royal Navy, comprising six type 45 destroyers, four Alternative Landing Ships Logistic, two survey vessels and three offshore patrol vessels.
In addition, our plans include the purchase of two new aircraft carriers, further ASTUTE class submarines and type 45 destroyers, the future surface combatant, and a number of support vessels.
It remains our policy that all warships for the Royal Navy will continue to be built in the United Kingdom. This major programme of shipbuilding will create or secure several thousand jobs in UK shipyards and their ancillary industries throughout the country.