Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to encourage UK shipbuilders to bid for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Solid Support Ships.

UK and international shipbuilders were invited through the official channels of the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Defence Contracts Bulletin and the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU), to attend a MOD Project Team Industry Day held in July 2016, which advertised the Assessment Phase contract opportunities available to industry. We hope that UK industry will produce a robust and competitive bid for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Fleet Solid Support ships.

As a non-complex warship, any related future events and contracting opportunities will be advertised through these same channels, to ensure we meet the requirements of EU commercial regulations and UK procurement law, to ensure all potential bidders are treated equally.