Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to make a decision on the (a) theme and (b) names of the Type 26 Global Combat Ships.

The Ships' Names and Badges Committee (SNBC) is responsible for considering and assessing the possible names for a new ship or class of ship. The committee considers all names which have been proposed, formally and informally, and presents its recommendations to a Panel of Senior Naval Officers from the Navy Board. The name(s) chosen at that stage are forwarded to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence before being submitted to Her Majesty the Queen for final approval.

A decision with regards to this process is not expected until the Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme has completed its assessment phase and Main Gate.