Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the target in-service date for the first Type 31 frigates is; and what assessment he has made of the implications of operating Type 23 frigates beyond the dates on they were due to be replaced by Type 31 frigates.

There has been no change to our plans for the first Type 31e Frigate to enter service by the end of 2023, with all five ships delivered by the end of 2028.