Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to increase the number of frigates in the Royal Navy; and if so, when they intend to start expanding that fleet.

The Government remains committed to a surface fleet of at least 19 Frigates and Destroyers, and the Royal Navy will have the ships required to fulfil their Defence and Policy commitments. The intent remains to grow the Destroyer and Frigate force by the 2030s, and the Type 31 Frigates will provide the opportunity to do this. It is not uncommon to have planned, temporary, small fluctuations in overall numbers during the transition from any class of ship or submarine to another.