海角视频

A Plymouth MP has described a plan which could see new Royal Navy support ships effectively built overseas and assembled in Britain as a "cop out" 鈥� and called for the ships to be wholly built in the 海角视频.

The Government has announced a 拢1.6bn competition to deliver three fleet solid support ships, which will carry munitions and provisions for the 海角视频鈥檚 aircraft carriers.

Yet a key component of the competition allows successful bidders to be allowed to work in partnership with international companies but are required to "integrate" the ships in 海角视频 yards.

Unions have issued fierce criticism of the move, as they say it will allow the ships to be branded as "made in Britain" even after they have been mostly built overseas and just put together in the 海角视频.

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence John Healey recently said that Devonport Dockyard, operated by Babcock, is ready to invest heavily on new facilities in Plymouth in order to carry out work 鈥� which would also support hundreds of jobs along the wider support chain.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, criticised the announcement of the competition, and the potential involvement of foreign shipyards.

He said: 鈥淒efence equipment should be built in Britain by default. Since I was elected in 2017, I have been vocal that these new Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships should be built in Britain.

鈥淭he Tories latest plan allows the ship鈥檚 parts to be made abroad and only assembled in Britain. That鈥檚 a cop out. Build all of it in Britain and let鈥檚 support jobs in shipyards and the supply chain nationwide. It鈥檚 a no brainer - so why are Tory ministers so keen to send large chunks of this contract abroad?鈥�

Launching the programme, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 鈥淎s shipbuilding tsar, I am delighted to launch the competition for these crucial Fleet Solid Support ships.

鈥淭hese vessels embody our commitment to a truly global presence by supporting the Royal Navy鈥檚 operations around the world. The competition reaffirms our dedication to investing in shipbuilding and support jobs across the 海角视频 maritime industry.鈥�

A leading union, Unite, also criticised the move yesterday, and called for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels to be fully designed, built and maintained in the 海角视频.

Unite said it is concerned that the British public will be fooled into thinking the ships were made in Britain, when 海角视频 workers jobs and skills are being sold out.

Unite assistant general secretary for manufacturing Steve Turner said: 鈥淭hese are 海角视频 ships that need to be designed and built in the 海角视频, using core 海角视频 technologies and products, such as steel.

鈥淭he 海角视频鈥檚 shipyards are in parts of the country which should be at the forefront of the government鈥檚 levelling up agenda. If the work isn鈥檛 fully awarded to 海角视频 yards it would be a betrayal of those commitments and these communities.

鈥淎s part of the 海角视频 leaving the EU, it was promised that in future such major strategic defence contracts would prioritise 海角视频 manufacturing and jobs, But despite some 鈥榮moke and mirrors鈥�, it currently appears that nothing has really changed. The Government must not allow a flag of convenience style scheme to be used to build the fleet solid support ships.鈥�

Unite national officer Rhys McCarthy said: 鈥淭he competition launched by the Government is slippery as an eel. The concept that the contract could be won by a 海角视频-led bid but then designed and completed largely overseas is highly dubious. Instead, defence secretary Ben Wallace needs to show his commitment and faith in 海角视频 workers鈥� skills and expertise.

鈥淥ur world class workforce and the 海角视频-based companies they work for recently delivered two state of the art aircraft carriers to the Royal Navy. We need a 海角视频 government to move on from soundbites to actually putting its trust, faith and taxpayers money into our workers at 海角视频 shipyards.

鈥満＝鞘悠� shipyard workers are seeking clarity from the government because this policy is creating concern, resentment and fear for the future.鈥�