Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a decision will be taken on the design of the submarines built for Australia as part of the AUKUS agreement.

Australia has requested our help in acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine capability, and we are using the trilateral 18-month scoping period, initiated in September 2021, to establish exactly what the best way is to meet Australia's capability requirement. As the three AUKUS Defence Ministers agreed at the inaugural AUKUS Defence Ministerial in December 2022, AUKUS states are making good progress identifying an optimal pathway. The scoping period is due to conclude in early 2023.