Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, what the evidential basis is for his Department's decision to set the objective of exporting 40 Type 31e frigates.

With reference to the National Shipbuilding Strategy no Departmental objective has been set for the export of 40 Type 31e frigates. The Government has assessed that there is a potential light frigate market of around 40 ships over the next 10 years.