Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 23191 on Defence: Procurement, what is the estimated length of the delay to the completion of HMS Achilles as a result of the 2024 Devonshire Dock Hall fire.

Work to recover from the impact of the fire in the Devonshire Dock Hall is progressing well. Achilles, the seventh and last boat of the class, remains at an advanced stage of build in Barrow-in-Furness.

The planned in-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.