Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any Military Aid to Civilian Authorities (MACA) requests have been submitted to his Department by the Home Office on the use of armed forces personnel to work at ports and airports during the planned period of industrial action by Border Force staff.

The Ministry of Defence has received a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request from the Home Office asking for military personnel to be made available as part of contingency plans to maintain public services and minimise disruption in the event of any industrial action by Border Force staff.

Under the MACA process, Defence always stands ready to respond to requests from civil authorities in line with established MACA principles.