Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost of refitting HMS Somerset was; who undertook the retrofitting work; and when the refit was (a) started and (b) completed.

HMS Somerset is not in refit; the ship is currently undertaking a period of planned survey and defect repair work.

The Ministry of Defence does not disclose future programmes or forward-looking availability forecasts in order to preserve the operational security of the Royal Navy's Fleet.

In response to details about the cost and location of HMS Somerset's last refit, I refer the right hon. Member to the answers I gave to you and the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) on 20 July 2023 to Questions 194161 and 194356.