Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 22 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what changes have been made to Royal Navy rules of engagement to track vessels suspected of (a) spying and (b) sabotage.

The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence continuously assess its Rules of Engagement to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately against malign activities and future threats.

For reasons of national security, I am not able to disclose specific rules of engagement, nor can I indicate when a review of our profiles was conducted and any potential changes that followed.