Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the extent to which the administration of Harland and Wolff will weaken the UK's sovereign defence capability.

For the purpose of safeguarding national security, the Department does not comment on whether a capability within the UK's industrial and technological base is vital for operational advantage or freedom of action reasons (often referred to as sovereign capabilities). Whilst we are disappointed to hear that Harland and Wolff entered administration, this will not affect current or future capabilities for the Royal Navy.