Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the news article entitled Nuclear patrol submarine returning to base with unusual amount of damage, published by The Telegraph on 6 January, what assessment he has made of the (a) amount and (b) cause of the damage to sonar panels; what assessment he has made of the capability of the nuclear deterrent submarines to continue safely; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely comment on the operations or material state of Royal Navy submarines. In this case, however, I can confirm that recent reports of an 'unusual amount of damage' were inaccurate. We continue to have full confidence in the safe and secure operation of our submarines.