Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they took in developing their plans for a new Royal Navy Surveillance Ship; when it will be ordered; when they expect it will enter service; whether it will have the capacity to repair subsea cables; and whether it will be built in the UK.

The new Multi Role Ocean Surveillance Ship is in its concept and assessment phase. Options for the procurement strategy are being explored, but no firm decision has yet been made.

The vessel will primarily undertake survey work and will also enable us to better protect our undersea cables and energy supplies. It will form part of the 30-year cross-Government shipbuilding pipeline which will be published in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh later this year.