Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to prevent industrial action from Royal Fleet Auxiliary a) ratings and b) officers.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is a vital element of Defence, enabling the ability to deliver operational effect in conjunction with our allies around the world. We continue to engage constructively with the trade unions which represent RFA ratings and officers. It would not be appropriate to offer more detail of these engagements as discussions are ongoing.