Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date he plans to respond to written question 23348 on Minesweepers.

The Mine and Threat Exploitation Group has been restructured as the Royal Navy transitions from conventional ship-based mine warfare and clearance diving towards an approach that employs autonomous capabilities. This change reflects the evolution towards a Hybrid Navy, but does not represent a reduction in the operational importance of mine warfare, clearance diving or seabed warfare to the Royal Navy.

As the hon. Gentleman will know from the hundreds of Parliamentary Questions he tables to the Ministry of Defence each month, we take time to properly answer each one and provide appropriate answers.