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Written question asked by John Healey (Labour) on Thursday, 16 May 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 May 2024. It was answered by James Cartlidge (Conservative) on Friday, 24 May 2024 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Multi-role Support Ships

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his speech at the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power conference on 14 May 2024, what the planned timetable is for the multi-role support ships reaching (a) initial and (b) full operating capability.

Answer

Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).

The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:

  • Industrial options, to be supplemented by in-depth engagement with industry;
  • Exportability, enabling any related campaigns to commence at the earliest opportunity, and providing transparency over any potential mismatch between domestic and international market requirements;
  • Full cost transparency, including the likely cost of associated and dependent enablers; and
  • Technological considerations, informed by wargaming and other evidence.

Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.

The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.

MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
26647
Session
2023-24
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Multi-role support ships
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk