Members of the Defence Select Committee have visited BAE Systems in Barrow to see for themselves construction work underway on submarines destined for the Royal Navy.
The committee are conducting an inquiry examining the AUKUS partnership, a trilateral security agreement between Australia, the US and the UK which was announced in 2021.
AUKUS will see the US and UK support Australia in acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine fleet alongside closer co-operation between the three countries on other advanced military technologies.
The inquiry is considering how AUKUS is progressing against existing milestones and what challenges may need to be addressed to give it the greatest chance of success.
“The future success of our area, our national security, and of AUKUS, are intertwined, you cannot have one without the others,” Michelle Scrogham, the MP for Barrow and Furness and committee member said.
“That is why as the local MP and member of the Defence Committee I am determined that we get this right and I am working hard to ensure that everything possible is done so we can play our central role in delivering AUKUS.
“I was proud to show the committee our amazing shipyard but also to introduce them to some of our communities who support it and who are equally vital to the success of this historic international partnership.
“I wanted my fellow committee members to get a full picture of the incredible progress that is being made as well as the many challenges that our communities still face following more than a decade of neglect and underinvestment.”
MPs met workers, apprentices and trade unions as well as Team Barrow.
The committee will use the visit to inform the recommendations to the Government in its AUKUS enquiry report later this year.
