Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of repairing damage sustained to HMS Prince of Wales following her recent propeller shaft fault.
HMS PRINCE OF WALES has suffered a shaft coupling failure which requires a complex repair. She arrived in Rosyth to prepare for dry dock repairs on Monday 10 October. It is important to remember that our Carriers are complex ships and sometimes mechanical faults occur. The role of the Royal Navy in these situations is to react quickly, make assessments, conduct repairs and ensure a timely and safe return to operations.
Currently, it is too early to comment on the cost of repairs to HMS PRINCE OF WALES, however, we will repair her and get her back on operations, protecting the Nation and our Allies as soon as possible.