Member Info for stokey12

Today we have questions to the Scottish Ministers questions 2 and 14 made me laugh they both ask 'What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the level of defence spending in Scotland.' I did not realise that there was a problem with the level of defence spending in Scotland. May be they are concerned that if deence spending is increased in Northern Ireland they would get less.

I made a request under the Freedom of Information Act to ask for the reasoning behind the request for approval to give a 100% guarantee. I received this response.

'I refer to your request for information (set out below in italics) dated 3 April 2024, which has been

considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR):

“I am writing to ask if you can provide a summary of the reasons why it was decided to

provide a 100% guarantee to Harland and Wolff in relation to Export Development Finance.

I appreciate that the full submission would probably include commercially sensitive

information, therefore. In so far as it does not include such information the executive

summary will suffice.”

In response to your request:

UK Export Finance (UKEF) holds no information in scope of your request. Discussions with

Harland & Wolff in relation to a potential loan facility under UKEF’s Export Development

Guarantee are currently ongoing.'

I am puzzled as to why the request was considered under the Environmental Information Regulations as they do not seem to apply. Looks like they just do not want to give anything away.

I note that HARL is also a member of SMI but noone at HARL appears to be an officer.

This was reposted by David Honeyman

National Shipbuilding Office

📢📢The UK Home Office are hosting a market engagement day on the 15th of May for the UK Border Force Maritime Capabilities Replacement Programme (MCRP).

This is an exciting opportunity for the UK’s #shipbuilding enterprise and the National Shipbuilding Office hope as many as possible can participate in the #marketengagement exercise.

🛥 This programme is for the replacement of the current fleet of five Cutters and six Coastal Patrol Vessels. More information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dNHHMqEp

ℹ Suppliers who are interested in participating in the market engagement need to submit their expression of interest by e-mailing bfvesselsteam@homeoffice.gov.uk by 17:00hrs on 3rd May 2024 to receive your invite. Ensuring that the subject field states “C17501 – Expression of Interest – Maritime Capabilities Replacement Programme (MCRP)"

The Honourable Member for North Durham will eventually run out of questions or be voted out of office. This is the latest question from the delightful gentleman. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-04-23/23149 the translation of the answer is I am not telling.

This from UK Defence Journal https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/building-of-new-fleet-solid-support-ship-to-start-next-year/ nice to get confirmation.

Caravan ref 06.48 post at this stage it is more likely that the deal will be done. I say that because the purpose of the 100% guarantee was to ensure that the deal would go through.

Kaeren Ref 18.53 post It would not apply in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland equivalent of Sir Geoffrey Vos would need to make a similar Practice Direction in Northern Ireland.

Xenor ref 14.31 post I am not aware of any information that supports the contention that HARL would go bankrupt if the UKEF funding is not in place by September.

Bubble2021 ref 13.31 post What we do not know is what stage payments are payable under the manufacture sub contract between HARL and Navantia. It is a seven year contract for around £750m so I would not expect HARL to have to wait until the end of the contract to be paid.

Ref 13.17 post the first line should read I did not say that all the £300m+

Compoundinterest ref 12.53 post I did not say that the £300m+ was coming from SOWEC that figure comprised of Export Development Guarantee Funded Loan of £200m less $115m existing debt which is being paid from it. At today's exchange rate that would leave around £108m. Plus £270m investment funding this would come from SOWEC in whole or in part. How any shortfall in the investment element will be covered I am not sure. It is possible that a JV may be formed to develop either or both of Arnish or Methil.

This from the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-68918348 I am not sure if this will affect the funding of SOWEC as the Scottish Executive is one of the partners in SOWEC.

Hebridean9 ref 11.29 post On what factual basis is this based on. As I posted a few weeks back the total of loans to be used for investment and investment from SOWEC amounts to over £300m. Of this only as far as I am aware £92m will be loans based on an exchange rate of 0.80USD to the GBP. In addition there is support in getting renewables contracts which would bring in work.

I would observe that we do not know the basis on which Ministerial approval was given for a 100% guarantee fir the UKEF funding. In my opinion there must have been evidence that it would bring in jobs and contracts exceeding the amount of the loan.

This from Cruise Industry News explains the recent departure and return https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/margaritaville-at-sea-islander-completes-sea-trials/ Looks like the refurbishment work to the systems were successful which should hep in getting more cruise refit work.

Bubble2021 ref 10.24 post I know about those things but there is no reason to believe that either will happen soon. In fact judging by the updates from Chrisatrdg about the judgement in IM I am not sure that we would hear anything this month.

Trish63 ref 09.02 post this is based on what?

Scaffman ref 11.57 post The Buyer Finance Solutions which are shown on the link I provided are the ones I was referencing in my post. They are separate from the Export Development Guarantee Scheme that HARL has applied for.

This from Cruise Industry News shows that HARL will be getting more free adevertising https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/villa-vie-residences-launches-docuseries-on-youtube/m There is already a film crew documenting the refit of the SeaRose now the Braemar. I suspect that the SeaRose documentary will be of higher quality.

I have worked out why there was some confusion over the arrival of the Braemar as there was a suggestion that the Braemar was arriving in May. On checking it would seem that there may be two ships called Braemar.