(CB):
Superficially, this sounds like very good news and I welcome it,
but were there no voices at the National Security Council that
spoke to caution at all in respect of risk and affordability? In
terms of affordability, Team Barrow sounds quite expensive. Is
this again going to be at the expense of the conventional
programme of UK defence? In terms of risk, is there not a risk of
leakage of our very small supply of very highly qualified people,
who would rather follow their career paths in Fremantle than in
Barrow?
The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Affairs ( of Chipping Norton) (Con): I
do not believe that the noble and gallant Lord’s concerns are
right. The money going into Barrow is a drop in the ocean
compared to the cost of one submarine: as he well knows, these
things come out at about £1 billion each. We need to make sure
that Barrow, which has incredible manufacturing expertise, is fit
to do this extra work that is going to be required as it scales
up to 17,000 jobs. Are we going to benefit as a country? I would
say absolutely yes. Rolls-Royce in
Derby is going to be providing the nuclear reactors for these
submarines—not just for the ones we use but also the ones
Australia uses. This is good for our defence, good for our
international relations and good for our industrial base.
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