Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the expected cost per ship of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship; and if he will make a statement.

On 2 July 2017, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced the award of a contract valued at £3.7 billion to manufacture the first batch of three Type 26 Frigates. The manufacture contract covers the build of the first three Type 26 Frigates through to sea trials and vessel acceptance by the Royal Navy, as well as the remaining development costs for the class.

The contract also includes the procurement of the medium calibre gun for the first three ships and the modifications needed to the Clyde shipyards at Govan and Scotstoun to enable the manufacture of the Type 26.

The detailed pricing of the contract is a commercial matter between the MOD and BAE Systems and I am therefore withholding the cost per ship as its publication would prejudice commercial interests.