Concerns are growing that a new generation of ships to back up the Royal Navy’s giant aircraft carriers will be built in foreign shipyards.

A Freedom of Information request has confirmed that more foreign shipyards than British ones attended a Ministry of Defence industry day for those interested in the £1bn contract to construct three new “solid support ships” for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Defence officials confirmed that seven foreign companies from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea and Spain were at the event, compared to just five UK-based shipbuilders. The event gave companies the chance to learn about requirements for the contract which will go out for tender within weeks.

The new 35,000-tonne ships will provide the Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers with vital supplies such as ammunition and food while at sea.