Russian Maritime Activity and UK Response

John Cooper Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd January 2025 Commons Chamber

[John Healey]

Yes.

[John Cooper (Dumfries and Galloway) (Con)]

Undersea cables in the modern era are as vital to this country as the merchant navy convoys were in the Battle of the Atlantic in 1942, and they are equally vulnerable. Taking shape on the banks of the Clyde at the moment are the state-of-the-art Type 26 frigates, which have mission bays on board. The right hon. Gentleman is fleet of foot—as we have heard, he won a foot race today—but we are in an underwater arms race. Will he do all he can to ensure that, when those ships take to sea, their mission bays bristle with the necessary underwater equipment to take on that threat?

[John Healey]

Those bays are designed to be interchangeable, and they will do exactly that.