Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2020 to Question 84645, whether there is a difference between the (a) assets and (b) capabilities of the (i) Carrier Strike Group and (ii) Carrier Enabled Power Projection.

Yes, there is a significant difference between the terms described.

Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP) consists of three core programme elements; Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, Lightning II aircraft and the CROWSNEST radar system. These combine to exploit the key attributes of maritime manoeuvre and air power to deliver action in all environments. The capability that CEPP provides is primarily Carrier Strike but is also able to support littoral and discrete operations, provide humanitarian assistance and conduct defence diplomacy. The Carrier Strike Group consists of the three core CEPP programmes combined (as appropriate according to tasking) with destroyers, frigates, submarines, additional rotary wing aviation and support vessels.