Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assets have been assigned to (a) Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, (b) Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, (c) Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 and (d) Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 since May 2014; and for how long each such asset has been so assigned.

There have been no Royal Navy ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 or Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 since 2012.

The ships assigned to the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group (SNMCMG) 1 and 2 since May 2014 were HMS Blyth, HMS Chiddingfold, HMS Grimsby and HMS Pembroke. The period of support is between one month and four months per ship.

In addition, the Royal Navy provides regular contributions to maritime NATO exercises, supports Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR in the Mediterranean using transiting surface vessels and submarines, and allows other NATO vessels in the Gulf region to refuel using the on station UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tanker.