Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support the British shipbuilding industry.

The Government is committed to supporting a competitive UK shipbuilding industry and its supply chains. My Department helps UK shipbuilders and suppliers secure overseas orders and attract investment through export campaigns, trade missions, international exhibitions and engagement with buyers and investors. We work closely with industry, the National Shipbuilding Office and UK Export Finance to promote UK capabilities and support access to finance. We also work across government to use public procurement strategically to support British industry, including a new UK-built research vessel and a UK-only competition for floating dock infrastructure supporting future Royal Navy submarines.