Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence: North Sea

Monday 20 May 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister stated the UK constantly monitors and deters threats in its territorial waters, including the North Sea.
  • Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic has reached levels not seen since the Cold War, prompting increased NATO and North Sea security operations.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of the seismic array at Eskdalemuir in Scottish defences, emphasizing the need to protect its capabilities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Joanna Cherry SNP
Defence
Context

No specific background event or statistic provided. The question is about assessing current defence capabilities.

Question

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of the UK's defensive capacity in the North sea?

Answer from Leo Docherty

Protecting the United Kingdom and responding to threats in our territorial waters is core business. In conjunction with our allies and partners, we constantly monitor activity in UK waters and deter threats. Our warships patrol the North sea frequently to achieve that deterrence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific assessment of defensive capacity adequacy or any quantitative data.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Joanna Cherry SNP
Defence
Context

Russian submarine activity in the north Atlantic is at its highest level since the Cold War. Operations like Dynamic Mongoose are significant for NATO and North sea security.

Question

In the north Atlantic, Russian submarine activity has approached the most significant level since the cold war. Operations such as Dynamic Mongoose are a welcome commitment to both NATO and North sea security. How much of the new tranche of defence spending will be directed at the North sea and Arctic security?

Answer from Leo Docherty

Of course, we do not comment on our magnificent continuous at-sea deterrence. What I can say is that it is a matter of public record that we are committed to a magnificent new generation of Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates, which will achieve the competitive edge that keeps us all safe.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific figures or percentages for defence spending on North sea and Arctic security.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 David Mundell Con Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Defence
Context

A seismic array situated in Eskdalemuir plays a crucial role in the UK's defences. The questioner is concerned about wind farm development potentially affecting its capability.

Question

Does the Minister recognise that the seismic array situated at Eskdalemuir in my constituency plays an important part in our defences not just in the North sea but elsewhere? Does he agree it is essential that its capability is not in any way diminished by excessive wind farm development in the immediate vicinity of the facility?

Answer from Leo Docherty

I agree with my right hon. Friend; he is absolutely right in his analysis. The broader point is that this is another example of why, undoubtedly, England and Scotland, through the Union, are safer and better together.

Not addressed: The response did not address the specific concern about protecting the seismic array's capability from wind farm development.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)