Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton and Gordon Henderson

Monday 15th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Con)]

T6. What estimate has my hon. Friend made of the threat to Britain from Russia in the north Atlantic, and can he assure me that the Royal Navy’s submarine service has the resources needed to meet any such threat and provide a continuous at-sea deterrent?

[Mark Lancaster]

As I mentioned earlier in answer to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), the level of naval activity that we see from Russia is at its highest since the cold war, but I am sure that the House will appreciate that I cannot go into too much detail. I can assure the House that our independent nuclear deterrent is continuously on patrol, as it has been every day now for nearly 50 years.