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Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 26 June 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 July 2019. It was answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 July 2019 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Warships: Territorial Waters

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps her Department is taking to deter foreign military vessels from entering UK territorial waters.

Answer

The protection of UK Territorial waters is a shared responsibility between the Ministry of Defence; Border Force; Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs; and, in relation to fisheries, the Marine Management Organisation in England, Marine Scotland and Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

As part of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to the Government's efforts, there is always one Royal Navy ship that is designated as the Fleet Ready Escort (FRE), together with a number of Royal Navy units available in UK waters. The FRE is at short notice to react to any maritime threat to the UK.

The FRE will spend the majority of the year in and around UK waters conducting training and exercises with various UK and military agencies and organisations. This is combined with RAF surveillance aircraft and a multi layered range of complementary assets, including those from Allies.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
269668
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Territorial waters Warships
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk