Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to protect the integrity of energy and telecommunications apparatus on the land and sea beds of Scotland.

The Royal Navy frequently patrols throughout the UK maritime area, offering increased surveillance of offshore oil and gas installations and other energy and telecommunications infrastructure. As part of Home Defence planning, the Government are also seeking to deliver measures that ensure energy and telecommunications infrastructure is safeguarded against a range of threats.