Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2026 to question 33724 on Russia: Telecommunications cables, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the deployment of uncrewed underwater vehicles to monitor critically important undersea cables in UK waters.

Atlantic Bastion and the Hybrid Navy transformation demonstrate Defence’s commitment, as set out in the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Investment Plan, to strengthen the protection of critical undersea infrastructure and deter hostile activity.

The Defence Investment Plan commits an additional £330 million for critical underwater infrastructure protection capabilities, including enhancements to RFA Proteus.