To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the change to a Hybrid Navy Fleet, if the UK will continue to have an evacuation capability provided by destroyers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the change to a Hybrid Navy Fleet, if the UK will continue to have an evacuation capability provided by destroyers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the decision to move away from destroyer-led air defence fleets at a time when other major naval powers are increasing the size of their destroyer fleets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the decision to move away from destroyer-led air defence fleets at a time when other major naval powers are increasing the size of their destroyer fleets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the (a) frigate and (b) destroyer refit programmes that have been (i) cancelled and (ii) deferred on grounds of cost since July 2024.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the (a) frigate and (b) destroyer refit programmes that have been (i) cancelled and (ii) deferred on grounds of cost since July 2024.

A summary of current ships in the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary and planned vessels.

A summary of current ships in the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary and planned vessels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has conducted (a) trials and (b) research into the feasibility of mounting (i) the Multiple Launch Rocket System and (ii) other similar systems on Royal Navy destroyers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has conducted (a) trials and (b) research into the feasibility of mounting (i) the Multiple Launch Rocket System and (ii) other similar systems on Royal Navy destroyers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) destroyers and (b) frigates the Royal Navy plans to have in service in (i) 2025, (ii) 2030 and (iii) 2035.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) destroyers and (b) frigates the Royal Navy plans to have in service in (i) 2025, (ii) 2030 and (iii) 2035.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational status of each of the Royal Navy's frigates and destroyers is by name of ship.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational status of each of the Royal Navy's frigates and destroyers is by name of ship.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether maintaining a fleet of a minimum of 19 operational Destroyers and Frigates is still realistic and sufficient; and, if not, what the new minimum will be.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether maintaining a fleet of a minimum of 19 operational Destroyers and Frigates is still realistic and sufficient; and, if not, what the new minimum will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2022 to Question 13040 on Destroyers and Frigates: Deployment, how many days each Royal Navy (a) frigate and (b) destroyer spent at sea in 2022.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2022 to Question 13040 on Destroyers and Frigates: Deployment, how many days each Royal Navy (a) frigate and (b) destroyer spent at sea in 2022.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether assessment they have made of their previous commitment not to reduce numbers of destroyers and frigates below 19.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether assessment they have made of their previous commitment not to reduce numbers of destroyers and frigates below 19.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) destroyers, and (2) frigates, are presently available for service with the Royal Navy.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) destroyers, and (2) frigates, are presently available for service with the Royal Navy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many days each Royal Navy (a) frigate and (b) destroyer spent at sea in each year since 2015.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many days each Royal Navy (a) frigate and (b) destroyer spent at sea in each year since 2015.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they remain committed to maintaining a force of 19 operational destroyers and frigates by the 2030s, as stated in their report National Shipbuilders Strategy, published in September 2017.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they remain committed to maintaining a force of 19 operational destroyers and frigates by the 2030s, as stated in their report National Shipbuilders Strategy, published in September 2017.

The Prime Minister has announced that the Government will undertake the deepest review of Britain’s security, defence and foreign policy since the end of the cold war. We remain committed to ensuring that the Royal Navy will have the ships required to fulfil its defence commitments.

The Prime Minister has announced that the Government will undertake the deepest review of Britain’s security, defence and foreign policy since the end of the cold war. We remain committed to ensuring that the Royal Navy will have the ships required to fulfil its defence commitments.

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. While I welcome that commitment, may I raise concerns that many are bringing to me—that at the minute we simply do not have enough ships to protect our two new aircraft carriers should they ever have to go to sea at the same time? Is it still the commitment of the Government to have two wholly UK sovereign deployable carrier groups to deploy at the same time, should we ever have to, while maintaining our other commitments overseas?

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. While I welcome that commitment, may I raise concerns that many are bringing to me—that at the minute we simply do not have enough ships to protect our two new aircraft carriers should they ever have to go to sea at the same time? Is it still the commitment of the Government to have two wholly UK sovereign deployable carrier groups to deploy at the same time, should we ever have to, while maintaining our other commitments overseas?

Although that has never been the policy of the Government, both aircraft carriers have been brought into service to ensure that one is always available 100% of the time. Although the precise number and mix of vessels deployed within a maritime task group would depend on operational circumstances, we will be able to draw from a range of highly capable vessels, such as Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates, and the Astute class submarines—and, in the near future, Type 26 frigates as well.

Although that has never been the policy of the Government, both aircraft carriers have been brought into service to ensure that one is always available 100% of the time. Although the precise number and mix of vessels deployed within a maritime task group would depend on operational circumstances, we will be able to draw from a range of highly capable vessels, such as Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates, and the Astute class submarines—and, in the near future, Type 26 frigates as well.

I associate myself with the words of the Secretary of State about what happened yesterday; our thoughts and prayers are with the emergency services and those involved. I also congratulate the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Andrew Bowie) on an excellent question.

The Secretary of State will not know that I am the son of a coppersmith in what was the greatest yard in the Clyde, John Brown’s—my own constituency office now occupies that land. I am very much aware of the vagaries of shipbuilding and the skills involved in it across the UK. I am heartened to hear what the Minister said to his hon. Friend the Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, but I want to ask about Fleet Solid Support Ships—

I associate myself with the words of the Secretary of State about what happened yesterday; our thoughts and prayers are with the emergency services and those involved. I also congratulate the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Andrew Bowie) on an excellent question.

The Secretary of State will not know that I am the son of a coppersmith in what was the greatest yard in the Clyde, John Brown’s—my own constituency office now occupies that land. I am very much aware of the vagaries of shipbuilding and the skills involved in it across the UK. I am heartened to hear what the Minister said to his hon. Friend the Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, but I want to ask about Fleet Solid Support Ships—

Unless the Minister starts baying at me.

The Fleet Solid Support Ships have the ability to use skills and create work across yards not currently involved in the Type 26 or 31. Will the Under-Secretary assure me that he will maximise that public delivery by taking it across and then keeping...

Unless the Minister starts baying at me.

The Fleet Solid Support Ships have the ability to use skills and create work across yards not currently involved in the Type 26 or 31. Will the Under-Secretary assure me that he will maximise that public delivery by taking it across and then keeping...

In November, the Secretary of State agreed that the Fleet Solid Support Ship competition should be stopped as it had become clear that a value-for-money solution could not be reached. The Department is now considering the most appropriate way forward.

In November, the Secretary of State agreed that the Fleet Solid Support Ship competition should be stopped as it had become clear that a value-for-money solution could not be reached. The Department is now considering the most appropriate way forward.