A NAVY VESSEL WITH MISSILES ON IT? THAT’S WHAT’S KNOWN AS A WARSHIP
Tories under pressure to give work to domestic yards
DEFENCE chiefs are under pressure to build naval support vessels in the UK – because they have missiles on board.
SNP MP Chris Stephens claimed the presence of weapons and Royal Naval personnel on the ships means they should not be built by a foreign yard.
The technicality makes them “warships”, campaigners say, which must be constructed in Britain for national security reasons.
The Tories caused anger after revealing foreign firms can bid to build Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels to support Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers this month.
The order is due to go out to tender today.
Shipbuilders’ union the GMB and a defence expert backed Stephens’s call last night.
The MoD insist they will press ahead with international tendering for the £1billion contract for three Fleet Solid Support ships.
Stephens, MP for Glasgow South West, tested the claim in a question to UK Government minister Guto Bebb.
The written response, seen by the Record, confirms the ships will have a range of weapons and sensors, including small arms and close range guns such as Phalanx missiles, used to counter anti-ship rockets.
Stephens said: “This question tested the point about national security.
“Phalanx arms are weaponry, so it is a warship and should be built in the UK. These weapons can shoot down missiles, that’s their job. It is a legitimate argument to say it’s a warship. The Tories are trying to take us back to the 80s by bringing in competition like this. “Much of it is probably down to the Treasury looking for any costs to cut, but they’re missing the clear benefits of keeping these contracts in the UK. “People stay in work, the local economy improves and income tax goes back to the Treasury.” Last week, the GMB showed shipbuilders from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and South Korea attended an MoD event on the Fleet Solid Support order. Research suggests up to 6700 jobs, including the steel industry, could be created or secured if the order stayed in the UK. Royal Navy warships are already only built in the UK. Francis Tusa, editor of the Defence Analysis newsletter, told the Record a dockyard such as Rosyth would be a natural home for these ships. Tusa added: “The argument for building them overseas was weak at the start and it’s getting weaker by the day. No one else is making these, so there’s no competitive advantage for building them in a foreign yard.
“The MoD say they’re not warships but as has come out in Chris Stephens’ question, these ships will regularly be armed and have Royal Navy personnel on them.
“How many cruise liners do you know with Marines on them?”
Gary Smith, Scotland secretary for the GMB union, backed Stephens’ call.
He warned: “It’s absolutely critical to the future of the yards in Scotland. Work is running down in Rosyth with big implications for the Fife economy.
“The UK yards should be looking at a bright future but instead we’re fighting for scraps.”
The tendering competition is due to end in 2020.
An MoD spokesman said: “All our warships are built in the UK and with the Type 26 frigates securing 4000 Scottish jobs and 20 years of work on the Clyde, and industry preparing to big for the new Type 31e class, we are witnessing a renaissance in British shipbuilding.
“We are launching a competition for three Fleet Solid Support ships this year and strongly encourage British yards to take part.”
Thousands of Scots ship yard jobs at risk because for contract yards to bid allows foreign government