Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Bulwark can produce adequate drinking water for its crew and the migrants aboard.

HMS Bulwark is currently in Malta for scheduled routine maintenance and will then resume her tasking as planned. We do not discuss the details associated with the maintenance of our deployed units, but I can confirm that HMS Bulwark has adequate fresh water supplies.

HMS Bulwark continues to play a full and active role in dealing with the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean and there are no plans for the UK to withdraw from this mission. While Bulwark was deployed for an initial 60 day period ending next month, we are currently considering follow on options to continue the UK military support to the operation.