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Merchant Shipping

Asked by Andrew RosindellReform UKMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 3 June 2026UIN 3205

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will release a non-classified summary of Royal Navy tasking, deployments and readiness measures relevant to the protection of merchant shipping and UK economic interests.

Answered by Al Carns

Details of current and future tasking, specific deployments and readiness measures are not routinely disclosed where doing so could prejudice operational security or the safety of our personnel. Where it is possible to do so without compromising security, we will continue to provide non-classified information about Royal Navy activity that supports freedom of navigation, maritime security, protection of UK trade routes and of course protection of our critical undersea infrastructure and data cables.

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