Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans are in place to establish a joint US-UK experimental aircraft carrier force unit.

As the only level one partner on F-35, we have been working closely with the US from the outset of the Programme. We have also been working through the UK/US Statement of Intent on Carrier Co-operation which has ensured continuity of our skills. Most recently, under these arrangements the UK Secretary of State for Defence and the US Secretary of Defense announced that USMC F-35B aircraft would embark in HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH's first operational deployment in 2021. This will be the subject of more detailed planning over the coming years. We will continue to identify opportunities to develop interoperability with our allies in the future.