There was some good news for the government as politicians return to Westminster and Whitehall after the summer break: the Royal Norwegian Navy will buy at least five Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates from BAE Systems Maritime. The vessels will be built by BAE’s shipyards at Govan and Scotstoun in Glasgow and the overall agreement is being billed as worth £10 billion.

There are aspects of the deal which are unquestionably positive. Norway’s selection of the Type 26 frigate over the American Constellation -class, the F126 from Germany and France’s Fregate de Defense et d’Intervention is a fillip for the UK’s defence industry. It is also a welcome boost for BAE’s facilities on the Clyde; the 2015 strategic defence and security review reduced the Royal Navy’s requirement from 13 sh

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