“So, the Government has a key role to play in that, and that’s why the white paper sets out the consultation to say to the industry, but also the wider public, what is it they require through this consultation to make sure this is robust and resilient as possible.”
Ben Obsese-Jecty, the Shadow Minister for Defence Procurement, said Britain’s lack of sovereign capable repair capability was a direct result of Labour’s “refusal to cut welfare to fund defence“.
He added: “Labour have repeatedly claimed that national resilience is a priority, but the ability to repair this critical infrastructure doesn’t feature in the National Security Strategy or Resilience Action Plan.
“They are yet to make a decision on our approach to a subsea repair capability, with our only UK-based commercial capability due to be retired in 2030. These are the real-world implications of Labour’s refusal to cut welfare to fund defence.”
A Government spokesman said: “The long-term protection of the UK’s subsea infrastructure remains a priority for the government, including ensuring a UK-based and UK-flagged repair capability.
“We recognise the importance of having repair capability and are exploring options for securing it in the long term in a way that provides value for money for the taxpayer.”
