Government Frustrated at the Slow Progress In Restructuring the Maritime Sector

House of Commons Defence Committee, The House of Commons Defence Committee today publishes the Government’s Response to the Committee’s report on The Defence Industrial Strategy: update (Eighth Special Report of Session 2006-07, The Defence Industrial Strategy: update: Government Response to the Committee’s Sixth Report of Session 2006-07, HC 481). 
 
The Committee’s report had acknowledged the good progress in implementing the Defence Industrial Strategy in 2006, but had highlighted the maritime sector as the area where progress had been slow. The Government Response shares the Committee’s frustration at the slow progress in this sector, but states that it is working hard with its industrial partners to achieve the required restructuring. 
 
The Committee had been concerned to hear reports that the Future Carrier programme might be cancelled because of budgetary pressures. The Government Response confirms that it “remains fully committed to the Carrier programme”. 
 
The Committee had welcomed the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding covering production, sustainment and follow-on development on the Joint Strike Fighter programme and the assurance provided by the Minister of Defence Procurement that the UK would get all the technology transfer it required from the United States to operate the aircraft independently; but had expressed concerns as to how things would work out in practice. The Government Response states that it “intends to monitor progress with the US very closely before committing to purchase aircraft”. 
 
The Rt Hon James Arbuthnot, Chairman of the Defence Committee, says “I welcome the Government’s response to our report. Good progress was made in implementing the Defence Industrial Strategy in 2006, but it will be important for the MoD to continue to work closely with its industrial partners to ensure that the required restructuring of the maritime sector is undertaken as soon as possible. The Defence Committee will continue to monitor these matters closely”.