Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what Royal Navy (1) ships or boats, and (2) aircraft, are allocated for security and enforcement operations in the UK's Territorial Seas and Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Royal Navy operates a flexible and responsive approach to the allocation of resource to address national security threats to the UK. In terms of vessel types, the Royal Navy allocates frigates, Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, Offshore Patrol Vessels, and minehunters, as well as helicopters (Wildcat, Merlin, and Chinook) to UK security operations. Additionally, the Royal Air Force supports operations in the UK maritime area with P8 maritime patrol aircraft.

It would be misleading to provide a numerical answer on the numbers of vessels and aircraft available for maritime security purposes as allocations may change on a daily basis, affected by, amongst other things, operational readiness profiles, maintenance, training and exercise requirements, as well as the activity of other nations in and around the UK's Economic Exclusion Zone.