Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with NATO Maritime Command to increase awareness of naval readiness across the NATO alliance.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is working closely with the NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM), based in Northwood, London, on a range of defence and security issues including the development of naval readiness initiatives. One example is the 'Ships Available At Sea For NATO Tasking' concept that is facilitating the integration of ships from any NATO Ally, or approved Partner Nation, into a NATO-led operation at any time.

This work supports a wider "NATO Readiness Initiative" that will strengthen NATO's readiness and operational flexibility by committing more naval capabilities to collective defence. We will continue to discuss this proposal with MARCOM in advance of the NATO Summit in July, where readiness as a whole will be a focus for the Alliance.