Committee writes to Secretary of State on Type 26 Global Combat ship

• Letter, dated 14 June 2016, from the Chairman to Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State, concerning Type 26 vessels
• Inquiry: Naval Procurement: Type 26 and Type 45
• Defence Committee

The Committee has written to the Secretary of State for Defence asking for more information on the Government's plans for the procurement of, and construction timetable for, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship and also the potential impact on the capabilities of the Royal Navy and the shipbuilding industry of any delay to the programme.

The specific questions the Committee has raised with the Secretary of State are:

• The timetable for work to commence on building the new Type 26, including the indicative dates for the completion of each ship.
• The implications of the current delay on the decommissioning or extension in service of the Type 23s, and whether the intention remains that one Type 23 will be decommissioned when each Type 26 comes into service.
• The impact the delay will have on the overall number of ships available to the Royal Navy.
• The Government’s assessment of the impact of the delay on the skills base and apprenticeships in the affected shipyards.
• The timetable for the design and construction of the 5 new lightweight vessels and whether they will be built before, after or alongside the Type 26 programme.
• An update on progress towards the National Shipbuilding Strategy and how it will bring greater certainty to the Royal Navy's shipbuilding programme.
• A breakdown of the liability for costs between Government and business resulting from the delay.
• How the costs of the workforce and the sites/plants will be absorbed if there is a further delay in the start of construction programme.
• What the financial impact would be on the workforce and the shipyards should there be any further reduction to the number of Type 26 ships ordered.

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