Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he had with the Royal Norwegian Navy before it announced its decision to procure 5 Type 26 frigates from the UK.

Norway's decision to choose Scottish-built Type 26 frigates demonstrates the success of our shipbuilding industry and the world-class skills and expertise of the workforce on the Clyde. This is the defence dividend in action for Scotland.

The Scotland Office has actively supported the Type 26 campaign both at home and abroad. Last year, the previous Secretary of State for Scotland attended a meeting with the Norwegian Defence Minister, hosted by my Rt Hon Friend the Defence Secretary, and invited the Norwegian Ambassador and Defence Attache to join him at the RAF Distinguished Visitors Day onboard HMS Prince of Wales, observing the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and visited Oslo to meet Norwegian Ministers and the defence contractor Kongsberg.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and I will continue to proudly champion Scotland’s world-class shipbuilding and wider defence sector, ensuring it remains central to both the UK’s defence capability and wider economic growth.