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Business of the House

My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary is making a statement to the House in due course, and I am sure that he will deal with these issues in more detail. As I have had a passing acquaintance with such matters over a number of years, I can assure my hon. Friend that it is important that in the construction of those two very large ships—the largest ships that have been produced in the United Kingdom’s history—the work should, wherever possible, be made available in the United Kingdom, subject of course to all the appropriate safeguards that are required. This represents an enormous opportunity for British shipyards. My right hon. Friend made his statement yesterday, and I am sure that further details will be available later today.