Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the speech by the First Sea Lord on 19 May 2021, what steps he plans to take to double the number of deployable destroyer and frigate days between 2020 and 2030 in the context of the RDEL budget being reduced in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021.

The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.