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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Union seeks assurances on Royal Navy ship orders | Union seeks assurances on Royal Navy ship orders |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Union representatives have said they hope to speak to Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon about the future of Scottish shipbuilding. | Union representatives have said they hope to speak to Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon about the future of Scottish shipbuilding. |
| Sir Michael is to visit two shipyards on the Clyde later. | Sir Michael is to visit two shipyards on the Clyde later. |
| Unite senior shop steward at BAE Systems, Duncan McPhee, said he was "not sure" if he could trust government promises on future orders. | |
| Mr Fallon said future work could underpin a "renaissance in UK shipbuilding". | Mr Fallon said future work could underpin a "renaissance in UK shipbuilding". |
| The union believes the UK government has reduced its commitment to building type 31e warships on the Clyde. | The union believes the UK government has reduced its commitment to building type 31e warships on the Clyde. |
| Mr McPhee said: "The national shipbuilding strategy has changed. This work should have been concentrated in Glasgow. | Mr McPhee said: "The national shipbuilding strategy has changed. This work should have been concentrated in Glasgow. |
| "It should have been 13 frigates. Now it is down to eight. | "It should have been 13 frigates. Now it is down to eight. |
| "I'm not sure if we can trust them any more." | "I'm not sure if we can trust them any more." |
| Offshore patrol vessel | Offshore patrol vessel |
| Sir Michael is scheduled to visit BAE Systems' Scotstoun yard in Glasgow, where his wife Lady Wendy Fallon will officially name an offshore patrol vessel HMS Medway. | |
| It is one of a fleet of five being built under contracts the MoD said were worth £626m. | It is one of a fleet of five being built under contracts the MoD said were worth £626m. |
| Later the defence secretary will travel to the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow. | Later the defence secretary will travel to the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow. |
| Mr McPhee added: "We will be at the naming ceremony and will hope to make representations. | Mr McPhee added: "We will be at the naming ceremony and will hope to make representations. |
| "We will have discussions with politicians of all parties. Our main concern is the type 31s." | |
| Sir Michael is making a tour of all the UK's major shipyards ahead of industry proposals for the new type of Royal Navy frigate. | Sir Michael is making a tour of all the UK's major shipyards ahead of industry proposals for the new type of Royal Navy frigate. |
| He has already visited Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside, and Harland and Wolff in Belfast. | He has already visited Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside, and Harland and Wolff in Belfast. |
| He said the first batch of type 31e ships could be built in blocks across several shipyards before assembly at a central hub. | He said the first batch of type 31e ships could be built in blocks across several shipyards before assembly at a central hub. |
| These ships and eight new type 26 frigates being built at Scotstoun are intended to replace ageing vessels in the Royal Navy fleet. | These ships and eight new type 26 frigates being built at Scotstoun are intended to replace ageing vessels in the Royal Navy fleet. |
| Export market | Export market |
| Speaking ahead of his visit to the Clyde, Sir Michael said: "With our cutting-edge Type 26 frigates already being built on the Clyde, I know Scottish skilled engineers will relish the chance to compete to build a brand-new class of warships for the growing Royal Navy. | Speaking ahead of his visit to the Clyde, Sir Michael said: "With our cutting-edge Type 26 frigates already being built on the Clyde, I know Scottish skilled engineers will relish the chance to compete to build a brand-new class of warships for the growing Royal Navy. |
| "We want to make the most of the renaissance in UK shipbuilding, delivering the latest ships that will help protect our nation and our interests across the world." | "We want to make the most of the renaissance in UK shipbuilding, delivering the latest ships that will help protect our nation and our interests across the world." |
| The type 31e has been designed, in part, with the export market in mind. | The type 31e has been designed, in part, with the export market in mind. |
| The UK government has said it will work with industry to "provide the certainty and support" needed for it to become internationally competitive. | The UK government has said it will work with industry to "provide the certainty and support" needed for it to become internationally competitive. |
| The UK's approach to Royal Navy procurement has been strongly criticised by the SNP. | The UK's approach to Royal Navy procurement has been strongly criticised by the SNP. |
| Defence spokesman Stewart McDonald MP said: "We have the skills, the expertise, the infrastructure in Scotland. But what we have also had is years of promises from Westminster that have been broken." | Defence spokesman Stewart McDonald MP said: "We have the skills, the expertise, the infrastructure in Scotland. But what we have also had is years of promises from Westminster that have been broken." |
| The formal procurement competition for the new frigates will open in the new year. | The formal procurement competition for the new frigates will open in the new year. |