Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has made for the Carrier Strike Group deployment in 2021.

We have yet to announce our destination or programme; planning continues and a statement will be made to this house in due course. This maiden deployment is a key step on the road towards full operational capability: these extraordinary ships will be with us for decades to come, and we are only just beginning to understand their potential. Deploying our sovereign carrier group at range allows us to test and demonstrate the successful cohesion of this complex system of systems. The carrier's convening influence is a powerful symbol of Global Britain and will draw our friends and partners together as we go. There will of course be visits and exercises, and there will also be numerous opportunities for supporting HMG's broader diplomatic and trade agenda.