Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister’s speech on action to tackle illegal migration on 14 April 2022, whether the 36 new Intercept and Escort Craft to be commissioned by his Department under contract procurement reference 2021/S 000-030887 will be deployed primarily to undertake patrol duties in the Channel when they become operational over the period 2022-26.
The 36 new vessels referred to are not yet contracted and are subject to an ongoing competition. They are being procured to maintain Ministry of Defence Police standing Defence Tasks at the Royal Navy Bases at Portsmouth, Faslane, Plymouth, Gibraltar and Cyprus. There are no current plans for these vessels to be deployed under Operation ISOTROPE in support of managing small boats migration in the English Channel.