Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) cost efficiency of the system for repair of defects on the UK's Type 45 destroyers; and if he will make a statement.

Type 45 Destroyers are supported by an In Service Support Contract between the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems, delivering a range of support activity which includes defect rectification. Type 45 defect rectification activity is predominately supported by specific Contracts For Availability with the Original Equipment Manufacturers. These contracts include specific incentives to ensure effective and cost efficient defect rectification, and they are assessed against performance and cost on a regular basis.