Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Royal Navy personnel are assigned to the standing commitments of (a) Fleet Ready Escort/Towed Array Patrol Ships, (b) Marine Enforcement, (c) Mine Counter Measures (MCM) Support, (d) Antarctic Patrol, (e) Atlantic Patrol Tasking North, (f) Atlantic Patrol Tasking South, (g) Falkland Islands Patrol Task, (h) Gibraltar Squadron, (i) Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime), (j) Gulf, (k) Standing NATO Response Force, (l) Royal Marines and Amphibious Capability and (m) Operation Atlanta; and what the liability shortfall is in each of those Standing Commitments.

The Royal Navy (RN) has very capable ships and submarines delivering a strong and versatile presence, while deployed globally protecting our national interests. This week the RN has approximately 8,500 Sailors and Royal Marines preparing for operations or on operations with a number of ships, submarines and Units deployed.

I am withholding further details of our Force structure as publication would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.