Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to MOD Government Major Projects Portfolio Data, 2022, whether he will provide further details on the additional Mission System 6 that has led to the extension of the end date for the Mine Hunting Capability programme.

Following the Integrated Review and subsequent Annual Budgeting Cycles, Block 2 of the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme has been initiated and is now included in Government Major Projects Portfolio reporting. This does not represent a change to our capability plans but is the next step in the evolution of the exciting and transformational MHC programme which is funded to deliver up to six mission systems and three Logistics Support Vessels.