Defence

Debate between Andrew Bridgen and Guto Bebb

Thursday 12th July 2018 Ministerial Corrections

[Andrew Bridgen]

Will the Minister confirm that any weaponry installed on the fleet support ships will be procured from British companies?

[Guto Bebb]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The weapons element of any ship that is not designated as a warship will be procured from the United Kingdom and fixed on to the platforms in the United Kingdom.

[Official Report, 9 July 2018, Vol. 644, c. 687.]

Letter of correction from Guto Bebb:

An error has been identified in the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for North West Leicestershire (Andrew Bridgen).

The correct response should have been:

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Bridgen and Guto Bebb

Monday 9th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Guto Bebb]

I am surprised by the hon. Gentleman’s question. I have explained several times at the Dispatch Box that we have adopted the shipbuilding strategy in full. The strategy is clear about defining warships as a capability that will be built in the UK and non-warships as a capability that will be subject to international competition.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

Will the Minister confirm that any weaponry installed on the fleet support ships will be procured from British companies?

[Guto Bebb]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The weapons element of any ship that is not designated as a warship will be procured from the United Kingdom and fixed on to the platforms in the United Kingdom.[Official Report, 12 July 2018, Vol. 644, c. 7MC.]

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Bridgen and Guto Bebb

Monday 11th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Guto Bebb]

The situation, as per the shipbuilding strategy and as per the letter I sent to the hon. Lady, is that we are looking to procure the fleet solid support ships. The shipbuilding strategy aims to ensure that we have a strong shipbuilding sector, and a strong sector also needs a degree of competition. We are protecting warships as a national capability, but we are opening other elements of the shipbuilding strategy to international competition.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

Does the Minister agree that keeping our armed forces equipped to the very highest standard, well led and with a strong fighting spirit, is the best deterrent our country has?

[Guto Bebb]

I could not agree more.