Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage took the fight to protect BAE shipbuilding jobs in Portsmouth straight to the Prime Minister, in a question during today's PMQs.
As the home of the Royal Navy, the shipyard has played an instrumental role in the defence of the British Isles for over 500 years. But with the livelihood of 1,500 BAE workers in jeopardy, and the future of ship maintenance uncertain, Caroline called on the Prime Minister to preserve the extensive employment links in the region by asking:
"The Prime Minister will know that Portsmouth has been the home of the Royal Navy and a working dockyard for over 500 years. Given that the Business Secretary seems to have prejudged the study into the future of shipbuilding, what reassurance can the PM give me and 1,500 shipbuilders that Portsmouth will remain integral to the building and export of warships and the baseport of our future surface fleet?"
The Prime Minister welcomed Caroline's support and said:
"Portsmouth is and will continue to be an excellent home for the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy is fully committed to Portsmouth, and whatever decision is taken on the future of shipbuilding, the Navy will remain a major employer in the city, not least when the new carriers arrive in Portsmouth in a few years time."
The question follows speculation about the security of the jobs at the Portsmouth shipyard, with BAE considering the closure of one of their three major shipyards. Caroline has held meetings with BAE bosses and Defence Ministers in recent weeks, and remains determined to try and protect jobs on the Portsmouth site.
