Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the F-35B aircraft recently ditched in the Mediterranean Sea was insured.

The F-35B aircraft was not insured as the Ministry of Defence, in common with other central Government organisations, does not normally purchase commercial insurance to protect against risk. Since the Government can pool and spread its own risks, there is little need to pay the private sector to provide this service. In general, it represents best value for money for the Ministry of Defence to cover its own risks.