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<p>On 10 March, the Prime Minister and I launched the UK’s new National Shipbuilding
Strategy, setting out a comprehensive package of Government support for the key priority
of furthering a shipbuilding renaissance for the whole of the UK. It reflects over
£4 billion of investment in UK shipbuilding over the next three years. Implementation
of this ambitious strategy is being led by the National Shipbuilding Office.</p><p>
</p><p>I am delighted with the progress already made since publication of the National
Shipbuilding Strategy. In particular, the National Shipbuilding Office is now fully
operational and brings with it a clear strategic focus on maximising the national
benefits from Government shipbuilding activity. The Maritime Capability Campaign Office,
the trade and investment arm of the National Shipbuilding Office, in the Department
for International Trade is also fully established and is rapidly identifying new civil
and defence export opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>Other recent achievements include
the announcement of the Chair and membership of the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce,
who will develop a strategy to boost skills and jobs in the shipbuilding industry.
The second round of the multi-year Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition has also
been launched as part of Department for Transport’s £206 million investment in a UK
Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions, which will match-fund private investment in
the commercialisation of clean maritime technologies. The Shipbuilding Enterprise
for Growth, the main interface between Government and industry, has also met twice
to drive implementation of the NSbS, and begun work to develop a model for the Shipyard
of the Future and define UK Centres of Excellence.</p><p> </p><p>Lastly, for all Ministry
of Defence shipbuilding procurements, I have raised the percentage of the evaluation
criteria that considers their contribution to social value to a minimum of 20%. This
could include the extent to which procurements support skills development or supply
chain resilience. We will also construct future contracts to ensure we maximise as
much as possible either UK build, content or design, or all three.</p><p> </p>
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