Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of overseas tender for the procurement of vessels for Trinity House, in terms of foreign government support for the tenders and subcontracting of work to third parties in the Far East.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Trinity House vessel procurement required bidders to state social value and UK content commitments as part of their bids, which accounted for ten per cent and five per cent respectively of the overall evaluation.

All bids are assessed against these criteria as part of a fair and open competition. Given that this procurement remains live at this stage it would be inappropriate for me to comment further before this process concludes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the procurement of vessels for Trinity House prioritises those which are built in the UK.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Trinity House vessel procurement required bidders to state social value and UK content commitments as part of their bids, which accounted for ten per cent and five per cent respectively of the overall evaluation.

All bids are assessed against these criteria as part of a fair and open competition. Given that this procurement remains live at this stage it would be inappropriate for me to comment further before this process concludes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the security considerations on any work being carried out overseas in relation to Programme Euston.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

All work associated with Programme Euston is conducted in accordance with clear departmental security policies applicable at HM Naval Base Clyde and across the wider Submarine enterprise.

The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the detail of those policies as to do so could prejudice National Security.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of jobs in the UK that will be secured by Programme Euston.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The commercial approach for the delivery of the dock and shoreside elements of Programme Euston will be finalised as part of the final investment decision which will be outlined following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the provision of UK-based apprenticeships in relation to Programme Euston.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The commercial approach for the delivery of the dock and shoreside elements of Euston will be finalised as part of the final investment decision which will be outlined following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the Chancellor's letter, sent to Cabinet colleagues in mid-May, regarding the awarding of government contracts in the procurement of vessels for Trinity House.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given on 2 June 2026 to Questions HL357 and HL358. The Trinity House vessel procurement remains live, and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their methodology for working out the (1) social value, and (2) proportion, of UK components for the procurement of vessels for Trinity House.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given on 2 June 2026 to Questions HL357 and HL358. The Trinity House vessel procurement remains live, and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 4 June (HL312), what assessment they have made of the number of apprenticeships that will be created in Scotland and the north-east of England under Programme Euston.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Programme Euston will be one of the most significant and sustained Government investments in Scotland over the coming decades. Employment and training in the local area will rise and the investment will drive regional economic skills and social/environmental benefits further afield.

The commercial approach for the delivery of the dock and shoreside elements of Programme Euston will be finalised as part of the investment decision to be outlined following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan. The actual number of UK-based jobs and apprenticeships that will be created as a result of the Programme can only be assessed following completion of the procurement process.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 4 June (HL311), what assessment they have made of the number of jobs that will be secured in Scotland and north-east England under Programme Euston.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Programme Euston will be one of the most significant and sustained Government investments in Scotland over the coming decades. Employment and training in the local area will rise and the investment will drive regional economic skills and social/environmental benefits further afield.

The commercial approach for the delivery of the dock and shoreside elements of Programme Euston will be finalised as part of the investment decision to be outlined following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan. The actual number of UK-based jobs and apprenticeships that will be created as a result of the Programme can only be assessed following completion of the procurement process.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many ministerial special advisors are employed in the Ministry of Defence; and what is the total cost o their employment.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The number of Special Advisers and their employment costs are published online and can be accessed via GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-adviser-data-releases-numbers-and-costs-july-2025/special-adviser-data-releases-numbers-and-costs-july-2025-html

As of 10 June 2026 four special advisors were employed by the Ministry of Defence, with costs up to £84,999 per special advisor.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the number of civil servants employed in the Lords' Minister's office in the Ministry of Defence; and what are their grades.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There are currently four civil servants working in the Minister of State for Defence in the House of Lords private office: one Grade 7, two Senior Executive Officers and one Higher Executive Officer.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants are employed within the parliamentary branch of the Ministry of Defence.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There are currently 11 staff employed in the parliamentary branch of the Ministry of Defence.

Found: is on that basis, Madam Deputy Speaker, that I welcome the comments from the Chair of the ISC, Lord Beamish