Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Royal Navy's operating capability under ice.

The Royal Navy (RN) has maintained an under‑ice capability centred on the Submarine Service through Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines and is certifying the new Astute Class to uphold this capability.

HMS Trenchant conducted the last Ice Exercise in 2018. It is the longstanding policy of this Department not to comment on future submarine operations.

The Strategic Defence Review highlighted the High North and Arctic as an increasing area of competition for the UK, and the Defence Investment Plan is considering a range of options to meet this threat.