The Royal Navy should not rely solely on the Clyde when deciding where to build new frigates, a report has recommended.

Mining magnate Sir John Parker, who was tasked with reviewing naval procurement, suggested contracts be shared among companies across the UK.

He said BAE Systems should build the Type 26 series, describing the defence giant as having the breadth of technical and engineering talent and the most recent experience of building sophisticated warships.

Sir John added a new fleet of Type 31 frigates was urgently needed to maintain the Royal Navy's fleet numbers and to establish a UK exportable light frigate.

He said: "There is no precedent for building two 'first class' RN frigates in one location."

A separate lead shipyard or alliance would appear to be the best way forward for the new frigate to minimise risk, the report added.

As such, Sir John concluded, the MoD should lay out its plans for naval ships over the next 30 years.

SNP defence spokesman Brendan O'Hara echoed Sir John, saying the UK Government must end "unnecessary and worrying delays" and bring forward its national shipbuilding strategy.

He said: "The MoD told us the strategy - vital to our shipbuilding industry - would be complete by the Autumn Statement last week at the latest.

"We are now told it will be spring next year before we can see any firm plans and that means more unnecessary and worrying delays for the workers, families and communities that depend on shipbuilding.

"These concerns about another Westminster muddle will only be heightened by some of the recommendations in this report, with clear implications for yards on the Clyde in particular.

"Today's report is a distraction for shipyards and shipbuilding in Scotland, who deserve better than this."

Sir John also found the Royal Navy faces a "vicious cycle" of outdated ships being retained and draining resources from the wider fleet.

The timeframe from concept to delivery was excessive compared to other industries, the report said.

Sir John continued: "Old ships are retained in service well beyond their sell-by date with all the attendant high costs of so doing.

"This vicious cycle is depleting the RN fleet and unnecessarily costing the taxpayer. It needs to be broken."

The chairman of Anglo American said there was a "vibrant" UK defence supply chain which the Ministry of Defence should harness.

He called for a "sea change", with "pace and grip" from the government so that shipyards across the UK can win contracts and create jobs.

Sir John determined that ministers should drive "cultural change" in defence to inject "genuine pace" into procurement and the management of time and investment.

Defence secretary Michael Fallon welcomed the report, saying: "I would like to thank Sir John for providing an ambitious vision of naval shipbuilding in the UK based on a new era of cooperation as part of our modern industrial strategy.

"This report will inform our national shipbuilding strategy to match the needs of the Royal Navy with the ability to design and build efficiently, maintain skills, and maximise export opportunities.

"This will ensure a strong naval shipbuilding sector and help deliver an economy that works for everyone."

Work on eight Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy will begin on the Clyde in summer 2017. There will also be five Type 31 vessels and a further two offshore patrol vessels there.

Shipbuilding was a centrepiece of the campaign for a No vote in the 2014 referendum on independence.

A Scottish Labour flyer issued during the referendum claimed "separation shuts shipyards", using the Unionist side's preferred term for independence.

Better Together also argued: "By working together as a part of the UK we can ensure the future of Scotland's shipbuilding industry."