Across the Irish Sea, the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has said his government is committed to supporting the shipbuilding sector right across the nation.
Speaking on the sector at Westminster, during Prime Minister's Questions, he said,"I've seen first hand what companies like Holland and Wolf and the role that they play in the economy while and I can't comment specifically on the details of any individual case due to commercial sensitivity, I can assure him that we are working closely with Harland and Wolff in their request for a loan.
The Prime Minister added, "It is under consideration” reports ITV News (which includes footage of the PMQ’s).
The minister for defence procurement has insisted that no decision has been made around financial support for the London Stock Exchange listed Harland and Wolff Group.
Last week, according to a report in The Times newspaper suggested that the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to block a key support package application by the shipbuilding firm, amid an “intense government row”.
John Wood, Harland and Wolff Group’s chief executive, then insisted their application “has not been rejected”, and “continues to be a work in progress”.
The shipyard group, which has its largest facility in Belfast, also has shipyard sites in Scotland and England, has received a major boon when the Team Resolute Consortium it belongs to won a bid from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The MoD contract to Team Resolute is to deliver three fleet solid support (FSS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) which provides fuel and stores required for the UK’s Royal Navy.
More here on the shipyard group's story.
