Posted on October 21, 2024
Jim Shannon, Democratic Unionist Party MP for Strangford, recently raised a question in Parliament about the impact of the UK’s NATO-first defence strategy on the shipbuilding supply chain.
Shannon inquired whether the Ministry of Defence had conducted any assessments to understand how the defence strategy, which prioritises NATO commitments, could influence the nation’s shipbuilding industry.
In response, Luke Pollard, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence, confirmed that all strategic decisions regarding the UK’s defence relationship with NATO are thoroughly evaluated.
Pollard stated: “All decisions on Defence strategy, encompassing our relationship with NATO, are fully assessed to ensure UK defence requirements are met, including the shipbuilding supply chain.”
He further highlighted the role of the National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) in supporting and expanding the UK shipbuilding sector, ensuring it is well-positioned to meet both national and NATO commitments.
Pollard added: “The National Shipbuilding Office works with colleagues across Government and industry to promote growth and resilience across the entire UK shipbuilding sector to enable it to meet our NATO commitments and, where possible, seize opportunities presented by working closely with allies.”
