Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that UK submarines are not a danger to fishing boats.

The safety of submarines and other vessels is paramount, and since 1993 the Royal Navy (RN) has adhered to "The Code of Practice for the Conduct of Submarine Operations in the Vicinity of Fishing Vessels". This was agreed by the Fishing Industry Safety Group, and is a focus for submarine crews.

To support the code there are regular consultation meetings between the RN and fishermen's associations in the Clyde, West Coast of Scotland, Irish Sea and the Portland/Plymouth regions.

In addition the RN has a Fishery Liaison Officer to provide a central point of contact with the UK fishing industry.