New hope for UK shipbuilding

Former conservative party deputy chairman, Michael Fallon is also minister for energy at the Department of Energy and Climate Change and a minister of state for Business and Enterprise in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). He is due to take up his appointment as minister for Portsmouth imminently.

This news follows what the group calls a “positive few months” of progress since the decision was made in November 2013 to move all British Navy shipbuilding away to Scotland and close the city’s BAE Systems yard with the loss of 1,000 jobs.

“There has been a lot going on behind the scenes,” Sarah Stanton, spokesperson for the Portsmouth Shipbuilding Group, told The Motorship.

She pointed out that the minister’s appointment is a step forward in the fight with the government to allow the group to continue building commercial vessels from the existing yard and the skills base already located in the city.

“The appointment can only be a positive thing and we’re looking forward to meeting with the new minister and discussing all of the options on the table.,” she added.

Business minister, Michael Fallon said: “Portsmouth has a proud history and I’m confident that it has a strong maritime future and can emerge stronger from the decision taken by BAE. City leaders, unions, BAE Systems, other interested parties and the government are all going to have to work together and pull in the same direction for new jobs and growth. I will be championing Portsmouth at the heart of government and banging the drum for this great city at every opportunity.”

The only concern from the shipbuilding contingency is that with two other jobs, Mr Fallon has the time to address the issues at hand.