Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 106 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made in ensuring an always on supply line for shipbuilding.

I refer to the answer provided by the former Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry to the Commons Oral Question 904899 from Graeme Downie MP on 30 June 2025:

'As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review and in the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, the Government are committed to supporting an "always on" shipbuilding industry by leveraging our buying power through public procurement and seeking to export our capabilities to friendly nations.'

Subsequently the Government has published the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), which recognises the importance of the British shipbuilding and maritime technology sector. The government will publish a shipbuilding and maritime technology action plan to deliver the commitments in the DIS relating to shipbuilding.