The future prosperity of Scottish military shipbuilding is at risk through the lack of a clear drumbeat of orders and uncertainty over the Type 32 Frigate, the Scottish Affairs Committee warns today as it publishes its report, ‘Defence in Scotland: Military shipbuilding’.
A consistent theme heard by the Committee was that to continue to thrive, the sector must have a regular drumbeat of orders. This could be at risk if cancellations and offshoring of production lead to ‘gaps’ in the workstream for naval shipyards.
The importance of Scottish shipyards maintaining a consistent flow of orders to allow them to invest and grow is highlighted by the report in the following section.
“We wish to underline the importance to Scottish shipyards of maintaining a dependable ‘drumbeat’ of orders to allow them to invest and grow. The days of ‘feast and famine’ must not return. The creation of the National Shipbuilding Strategy suggests that the UK Government appreciates the importance of this point. However, there remains some uncertainty about the pipeline in the 2030s and 2040s, such as the basis on which the Type 45 destroyers will be replaced. The Scottish shipbuilding industry should not be given cause to doubt that it will have a consistent order book in the future, so long as it continues to deliver on its commitments to its Government customers.”
As a recommendation, the report states that the UK Government should provide more clear information about the work that will fill the shipbuilding pipeline to give Scottish shipbuilders the confidence to continue to invest in the future.
“The UK Government should provide greater clarity about the work that will fill the whole of the 30-year shipbuilding pipeline into the 2030s and 2040s. It is of course difficult to calculate precise military needs beyond 2050. However, the UK Government should give Scottish shipbuilders the confidence to continue to invest in the future with a clear commitment that it will strategically use its contracts to sustain the national capacity to design and build warships in Scotland, so long as industry continues to deliver on its own contractual commitments.”
The report continues on the theme of uncertainty, stating:
“Recent developments have introduced uncertainty about some orders in the pipeline and whether it sets out a clear ‘drumbeat’ of orders needed to sustain Scottish shipyards. The Fleet Solid Support Ships and the National Flagship are two examples. There has been some media speculation about the Type 32s, although the UK Government have stated: “The strategic and long-term investments continue to be on track and will increase the capability and size of the fleet.”
And as a recommendation, the report advises that the UK Government should provide an update on the current status of the military shipbuilding pipeline for Scottish naval yards and confirm if the MOD still intends to order the Type 32 frigates.
“In its response to this report, and in its annual shipbuilding update to the Defence Select Committee, the UK Government should provide an update on the current status of the military shipbuilding pipeline for Scottish naval yards. In particular, it should confirm whether the MOD still intends to order the Type 32 frigates as set out in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh, and whether the timeline for the Type 32s has changed as a result of concerns about the affordability of the initial plans. The MOD should also set out whether the cancellation of the National Flagship has created a gap in the pipeline, and if so how this gap will be filled.”
The report can be accessed here: https://publications.
Biggest uncertainly for continued orders to Scottish shipyards is the SNP constantly banging on about independence.
Independence = no more orders.
Agree. If the SNP dropped their rhetoric around independence and delivered on their promises to the population of Scotland as a maximally devolved region then I think you’d find shipbuilding orders would be formed up.
Instead they try to blame Westminster for everything and the rest of the UK for all of Scotland’s problems whilst taking zero responsibility for their ineptitude.
Sounds very similar to the Tory’s mind.
We do need serial frigate production of type 31 type hull form. So 5 type 32s followed by 5 type 33s followed by 5 type 34s. Ideally speed up type 26 programme and shoehorn a couple more hulls in their.
The fact is Scotland is getting more than the lion’s share of shipbuilding and needs to be more appreciative of that fact. I’d like to see more work go to English, Northern Irish and Welsh yards.
It’s not just shipbuilding.
How can any major business invest and expand in Scotland when the SNP is constantly threatening an independence which would see it outside of both the U.K. and EU single-markets.
I would prioritise further T31 orders, with subtle variations for further specialisations such as T32. The RN have got it right with the T26-T31 high-low mix.
And yet people keep voting for them. I can only assume it’s an epidemic of masochism.
I think Scots vote for them as the lessor of all evils.
They won’t vote Tory, because memories of the Poll Tax experiment still causes anger, along with the decline of heavy industry in the 80’s.
They won’t vote Labour because it flip-flops between Corbyn-style Marxism and Blair-style champagne-socialism. Both are anathema to the traditional aspirational working-class who believe in fairness rather than a political ideology.
Lots of people vote for the SNP for a number of reasons. I voted for them last time as they have made policies that make my life easier/ better and they seemed the best of a bad bunch. They don’t have my vote blindly. Next election I will see who is the best.
The independence thing didn’t even enter my thoughts as thought we were putting the question on ice for a generation-25 years.
I can fully appreciate that, I think I would be the same, yes they may be bastards like most politicians, but at least they are ‘our bastards’ as the saying goes.
Yes I have to say if I were Scottish (god forbid) I would be tempted by Independence simply because the standard of Govt here is just so appallingly bad, it starts to feed into the it can’t be worse mentality for good or bad.
An independent Scotland would be as relevant as Belgium.
They’ve no alternative from the SNP. other parties are not the voice that the Scottish people find credible.
T 32 won’t happen,it’s a smokescreen to cover the rest of the mess that the navy is in
You’re accusing the RN of lying?…
I also don’t recognise “the mess that the navy is in” either. There’s currently more new vessels under contract and being built for it than there has been in decades. It can also field in an emergency two CSGs, aside from the USN what other navy can do that?!?! 🤷🏻♂️
Army equipment procurement on the other hand, utter shambles.
The National Audit Office; which constantly highlights deficiencies in defence procurement, stated in 2015 that the Astute achieved its top speed KPM. You really shouldn’t believe everything you read in The Guardian, which is the source of your top speed, rust and electrical issues story.
So the RN is “in a mess” because a shipbuilder, not the RN, took for 4 years to build an OPV.
Lack of perspective or accuracy methinks…
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Rubbish. This dirge has no place on a site like this one.
It’s a fair point, and one the SNP seem to steadfastly ignore in their reckoning. The idea that we’d continue to source our advanced warships from another country is crazy.
I’d be very sorry to see Scotland leave the union. I know that the history hasn’t always been rosy but there are certainly shared points to be proud of- and I do believe we’re stronger together.
Agreed. But their leader seems to be more concerned about transgender pronouns than trivial things like economy, jobs and ships for the dreaded English Royal Navy. Wee Jimmy Crankie rules the roost.
I don’t think Jimmy Crankie is that concerned about the transgendered, she’s engineered the issue just to provoke yet another “Westminster denies Scottish democracy” clash. Totally disingenuous individual.
What is the fixation of the SNP with leaders akin to a fish? Alex salmon, Nicola sturgeon, who’s next, Joe pike?
It would serve them right,I’d have little sympathy for an independent Scotland, which in time would come cap in hand hoping that the English would help them. My message to the SNP would be,be careful what you wish for.
This appears to be phrased as a joint SNP (expected) /shipbuilders (cheeky *) joint viewpoint:-
a) There is a constant drumbeat in operation
b) In a very uncertain world defining that drumbeat for future requirements must be somewhat difficult
c) The reference to the FSSS seem to be questioning the validity of anyone else getting orders outside of Scotland, or the above *
d) The National Flagship was always bollocks
d) SNP have presided over where ferries will be built. With certainty like that…..
The Clyde yards should be grateful for what orders that they have, Carmel laird and Harland wolfe have been unlucky as far as warship contract awards have been yet again giv to the Clyd hotel , where workers turn up for a good days sleep no wonder it takes them 4 years to build a patrol ship!
A drumbeat is all well and good but just words, if the Clyde can’t deliver to it, then it’s just political sound bites ambition is great to see, but common sense should be used in getting it achieved
Scottish shipbuilding must up it’s game, the rate of production is not good enough to meet with the demands of the navy ships are needed now, north eventually the Clyde took 4 years to build a river patrol ship building frigates may take double that time, and its not good enough at all. £millions have been thrown into the Clyde yards, yet, we still hear woe and misery from north of the border whining about the future for me they should be grateful for the orders that have been made.their performances hardly merit getting the orders. If there were more yards across the u.k, THEN, they WOULD be in trouble