Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Johnny Mercer Excerpts
Monday 23rd April 2018

(6 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Guto Bebb Portrait Guto Bebb
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I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Indeed, he has written on this issue to the Secretary of State. The process by which ships are named is understood by the hon. Gentleman, and I agree entirely that the city of Sheffield has every right to be considered as a potential city to be named after in terms of the Type 26s, but the process will be followed as per the usual manner.

Johnny Mercer Portrait Johnny Mercer (Plymouth, Moor View) (Con)
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The Minister will be aware that, on Monday, after much talk between Plymouth and Portsmouth, I launched a campaign to have the Type 26s port based in Plymouth. Will he meet me and a leadership team from Plymouth to outline why this key city in the nation’s crown deserves to have the ships port based there?

Guto Bebb Portrait Guto Bebb
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I would of course be more than delighted to meet my hon. Friend and a delegation from Plymouth. I was very pleased to visit Plymouth and was very impressed with what I saw—for example, the work on the refurbishment of the Type 23—so it would be a pleasure to meet that delegation from the great city of Plymouth.