Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Table 8 of his Department's UK armed forces equipment and formations 2020, published on 10 September 2020, for what reason the number of in service Merlin HM2 helicopters reduced from 25 in 2017 to 19 in 2020.

The Royal Navy has had 30 Merlin HM Mk2 air systems on the Active Military register since the transition from Merlin HM Mk1 in the early 2010s. Of these, five will always be in a period of Depth Maintenance, resulting in a Forward Fleet of 25 air systems. At times, some of these air systems are given over for equipment modifications and trials. This is managed to ensure that the temporary reduction in available air systems does not prevent the Merlin HM Mk2s from meeting Defence Tasks.