Burnham launches £31bn submarine programme phase

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to launch the next stage of the nuclear submarine replacement programme in Barrow-in-Furness. The £31bn Dreadnought-class programme is central to Mr Burnham's vision for a reindustrialised Britain, according to Downing Street. The prime minister intends to highlight investment in communities through defence projects.

A new set of contracts valued at £8.4bn will form part of the Dreadnought programme. Downing Street stated these contracts are expected to create 18,000 additional jobs in the nuclear defence sector by 2030. Furthermore, the programme aims to support 22,000 new apprenticeships by 2035.

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Defence Spending Targets

Mr Burnham has reiterated the United Kingdom's commitment to meet the Nato target of increasing defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. However, he declined to commit to an interim target of 3% of GDP by 2030 during a press conference. This position aligns with comments previously made by the defence secretary and the chancellor.

The Dreadnought submarines are being built to replace the current Vanguard-class submarines, which are responsible for maintaining the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent. Each Vanguard submarine is capable of carrying 40 nuclear warheads.

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The overall £31bn Dreadnought programme incorporates a £10bn contingency fund to address potential cost overruns. Government procurement monitors have placed the programme on amber alert due to concerns about its scale and complexity.

Job Creation and Programme Details

The majority of the latest phase of work is being awarded to BAE Systems, the owner of the Barrow shipyard. The company has received a £5.9bn contract to finish the construction of the first four new submarines, with the first expected to be ready for service in the early 2030s. The UK's military nuclear activities currently provide employment for 47,000 people, with 13,500 of those jobs based at the Barrow shipyard.

Nuclear warheads for the Trident system are designed and manufactured at AWE facilities in Aldermaston and Burghfield, Berkshire, employing 9,000 individuals. An additional 4,000 people work at Rolls-Royce in Derby, involved in the construction of the nuclear reactors for the Dreadnought and other Royal Navy submarines.

Mr Burnham stated, “Keeping this country safe is the first responsibility of any government, but security is not only about what we build; it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it.” He added, “To every young person across the country, I want you to know that there is a path for you into a reindustrialised Britain, and it starts with the apprenticeships we are funding through this investment today.”