Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to seek a UK supplier for the replacement of the UK Border Agency’s existing cutter fleet.

Earlier this year the Secretary of State for Defence announced a refresh of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This will outline the Government’s plans for shipbuilding programmes and how it intends to set the conditions for a globally successful, innovative and sustainable national shipbuilding enterprise.

The Home Office is fully engaged with the strategy refresh, with overarching priorities and decisions being subject to wider considerations in forthcoming spending reviews.

Any consequent procurement process will support wider Government Policy and be conducted in line with all relevant legislation.