To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether steel has been ordered for Batch 2 of the Type 26 frigates.

Steel for the first of the Type 26 Batch 2 ships was ordered together with the steel for the Batch 1 ships. Orders for steel have not yet been placed for any of the subsequent Batch 2 ships. In common with other large defence programmes, further orders will be placed in due course.

Responsibility for sourcing steel for the Type 26 Batch 2 frigates rests with BAE Systems the prime contractor, who make their steel requirements known to the UK steel industry and procure the steel in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines.