Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to address the shortage of engineers in the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy employs a range of measures to improve the recruitment and retention of engineers. These include apprenticeship schemes and staged financial awards, as well as an active engagement in a University Technical Colleges affiliation programme aimed at assisting in the development of technically able young people.

The Royal Navy is constantly evolving their recruitment marketing methods, using specific targeted advertising campaigns, web based media, radio, social media, print and appearances at recruitment events.

In addition, the Ministry of Defence will work as a partner with the Department for Transport on its Year of Engineering 2018 initiative, and all Services will promote that initiative, helping to deliver a brighter future for engineering in the United Kingdom.