Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the three planned solid support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary will be built in UK shipyards in order to form part of the regular drumbeat of orders required to maintain the strategic capability of a viable UK shipbuilding industry being identified by Sir John Parker in his national shipbuilding strategy.

Work to date suggests that the majority of the requirements of the Fleet Solid Support Ships are likely to be classified as non-warlike, allowing the ships to be procured through open competition, to UK and international bidders. Sensitive elements of the ships are expected to be procured through competitions that will be limited to UK only suppliers.

It is too early to say where the steel to be used in the construction of these ships will be sourced from.