Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Strategic Defence Review on the ballistic missile defence capabilities of the Royal Navy.

Ballistic missile and aircraft carrier capabilities are important to Defence. The importance of maritime power more broadly has been highlighted by the recent Royal Navy response to protect international shipping - vital to our way of life and economic security - from Houthi missile attacks in the Red Sea.

It is only right that we do not pre-determine what may happen in the review. The Strategic Defence Review will set out recommendations on the roles, capabilities, and reforms which UK Defence must have to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century.