Western Morning News (Saturday)
MP: Give dockyard confidence to invest
THE Government needs to “pull its finger out” and make a decision on valuable defence contracts so Devonport Dockyard operator Babcock can make crucial investment plans, Labour’s shadow defence minister says.
John Healey, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, said a dithering Tory Government is putting pressure on the engineering giant which is looking to invest heavily in new facilities in Plymouth so it can refit warships and submarines.
The politician met bosses at dockyard operator Babcock International Plc and union reps and workers when he visited Plymouth ahead of the local authority elections, with Labour hoping to hold on to control.
And he heard they are concerned about procurement and also skills shortages with not enough young people bringing fresh blood into the vital defence company.
Mr Healey said a main concern was how much work will come to Devonport as new Type-26 and Type-31 frigates come into service, specifically where the ships will be refitted.
A Government decision on building Fleet Solid Support Ships, with Babcock having been in the running, has also been delayed,
And there are also issues with delays to the Dreadnought submarine programme, due to replace the Vanguard deterrent in the 2030s, with major rebuilding work at
Devonport Dockyard in the pipeline to accommodate this.
Mr Healey said bosses and workers were concerned and said: “They want the Government to pull their finger out and place the contracts for the new ships they have promised for some time. They have been promising a ship-building strategy for months.
“What yards like Plymouth need is the Government, as a big customer, to have a long-term investment plan that allows companies like Babcock to match with private investment and secure long-term jobs.
What yards like Plymouth need is the Government to have a long-term investment plan JOHN HEALEY MP
“They are pushing the company for the overhaul of the maintenance dock, but Babcock is dragging its feet because the Government are dragging their feet.
“The union wants to see the detail in plans for re-doing the maintenance docks for the new frigates when they come in.”
And with reports the Dreadnought project has slowed he said: “People are right to be concerned about this programme slipping. It’s part of the MoD getting big contracts in place and on time and on budget.”
Mr Healey said he was also told about a shortage of young people entering the vital engineering sector, but stressed firms such as Babcock need to do their bit to find new recruits and not merely blame a “dysfunctional” national apprenticeship programme.
He said: “There is a low level of new apprentices and recruitment of local young people into the industry, to ensure there is new lifeblood and skills for the future.
“The company and the unions are right to look to the Government for some support and a strong apprenticeship system, but the company can’t use a dysfunctional apprenticeship system the Government has introduced as an excuse.
“The company needs to do more itself. That the national apprenticeship system not working well enough is not an alibi.”
Mr Healey, who also visited Plymouth business Greenhook Fishing, which employs ex-military personnel, praised the city and its council for its work with veterans.
He said Plymouth has 12,000 former service personnel of which more than a third are still of working age, and the city is an example of how to support them, something he will take back to Westminster and embed “employment and skills” into the current Armed Forces Bill.
Mr Healey was accompanied in Plymouth by Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard, who backed the call for refit work to come to the city.
He said: “We have a good case for keeping surface ship refits in Plymouth but we need a clear plan from the Government on where the Type26s will be refitted, and when does
Devonport is in pole position and hungry for the work, but uncertainty is not good JOHN HEALEY MP
the contract go out to tender.
“Devonport is in pole position and hungry for the work, but uncertainty is not good, we want clarity from the ministers. We will have them (Type26s) based here but the refit work is the important part.”
But he said a slippage in the Dreadnought programme could bring an unexpected boost for Devonport if the Vanguard subs have to remain operational.
“If the Dreadnought programme is expecting delays we need to make sure there is enough life in the Vanguard class to keep the deterrent at sea,” he said. “Plymouth has the refit of Vanguard and if they need to have their lives extended there are jobs for Devonport.”