Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of the jobs that will be (a) created (b) sustained in the supply chain in (i) the UK and (ii) Spain by his Department's contract with Team Resolute for three Fleet Solid Support ships.

It is expected that around 800 jobs will be sustained in the UK supply-chain for equipment, design and support services. The number of new jobs created will depend on the capacity of the UK supply chain to fulfil the orders that arise. The number of supply-chain jobs created or sustained in Spain to deliver the Fleet Solid Support ships is a matter for the contractor concerned.