In the second phase of its Defence in Scotland work, the Scottish Affairs Committee has launched a new inquiry examining military shipbuilding in Scotland.
The sector currently supports 7,000 jobs in Scotland, many of which are highly skilled.
Maintaining this employment relies on a regular orders. However, in last year’s Defence and Security Industrial Strategy , the UK Government made revisions to allow the possibility of more open international competition, rather than all Royal Navy warships being designed and built solely in the UK.
Unions have expressed concern that this position undermines the confidence that the industry requires in order to invest.
The committee will explore the impacts such policy changes are having on the industry in Scotland, while also considering the opportunities for Scotland of exporting design licences for ships, and what more Westminster could be doing to support the sector.
Scottish Affairs Committee chair Pete Wishart said: “The shipbuilding industry in Scotland supports many highly skilled jobs, but its future success could be undermined by UK defence policy.
“During this inquiry, we will look at what challenges changes in defence policy present for the sector, and the potential opportunities which can be opened up for Scottish industry through exports.”
This inquiry will build on the recent Defence Committee report We’re going to need a bigger Navy and the UK Government response.
The committee is inviting written submissions by 10 May, which it stated should focus on:
- What impacts are the government’s Shipbuilding Strategy and National Shipbuilding Office having on the industry in Scotland?
- How many and what types of Royal Navy ships will likely be built in Scotland in the years ahead?
- How does the procurement approach for each class of Royal Navy ship being determined on a case-by-case basis affect Scottish shipbuilding?
- To what extent does Scotland benefit from exporting military ships and/or their design licences?
The first phase of the committee’s Defence in Scotland inquiry series looking at the military landscape in Scotland is still underway.
As part of this inquiry, the committee will be hearing from Scotland's national and local government on 7 March, followed by the UK Government on 21 March. The committee then intends to publish a report outlining its findings.
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
