Advertisement

Ministry of Defence told to make new £1.5bn fleet of ships in Britain

The new fleet would support Royal Navy aircraft carriers - PA
The new fleet would support Royal Navy aircraft carriers - PA

The Ministry of Defence must make the new £1.5billion fleet of ships in Britain otherwise the UK is at risk of losing its shipbuilding skills forever, Labour has warned.

The warning comes after the MoD asked potential suppliers to take part in "market engagement" about the major contract to build three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships that will help keep the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers at sea, providing them with stores such as ammunition and food.

The “prior information notice” on the MoD contracts website adds that it is open to “UK and international suppliers or consortiums offering a UK or international ship design, who are capable of either priming, providing a design and/or integrating or building FSS ships”.

Five years ago the Government announced it would build three support ships, although an order is yet to be placed, meanwhile the National Audit Office recently highlighted the lack of support ships as a potential weakness in the MoD’s plans for the deployment of the carriers.

John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, told The Telegraph: “If we fail to back British skills we risk losing them for good and weakening both our security and industrial base for the future.”

 John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, said the MoD should back British skills - GETTY IMAGES
John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, said the MoD should back British skills - GETTY IMAGES

Mr Healey accused defence ministers of having “dithered over this decision” for five years, “when it’s a no-brainer to build these vital new ships in Britain”.

“They are selling Britain short by not putting the work into UK shipyards. No other major military nation has ordered naval support ships from foreign yards,” he said.

Mr Healey urged the Government to consider that “what can be built in Britain now, must be built in Britain”.

“And long-term defence and security procurement, must also involve plans to develop the UK’s future capacity to build in Britain. This is one test by which we will judge the Government’s new Integrated Review of defence and security.”