Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Royal Navy Surface Fleet 2026-07-06

Monday 6 July 2026 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister for Devonport highlighted the need to accelerate the retirement of outdated Type 23 ships.
  • The government committed to procuring six common combat vessels to replace older ships.
  • The Minister confirmed the commitment to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and its fleet expansion.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alec Shelbrooke Con Elmet and Rothwell
Defence
Context

The number of deployable Type 23s is reducing due to the retirement of HMS Iron Duke.

Question

What steps are being taken to increase the availability of the Royal Navy surface fleet? With the retirement of HMS Iron Duke, the number of deployable Type 23s is reducing. In government, we ordered a total of 13 Type 26s and Type 31s. With the Chagos deal now dead, does the Minister agree with our policy that the immediate saving of £400 million should be used to accelerate the commissioning and launching of the Type 26s and Type 31s?

Answer from Luke Pollard

As the Member of Parliament for Devonport, where we not only base-port but refit Type 23s, I know that many of those ships that have given decades of service are no longer able to provide the capabilities we need. That is why we are accelerating the out-of-service dates for a number of those platforms while still investing in accelerating shipbuilding on the Clyde, where we are building the Type 26s, and investing in the hybrid Navy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific ask about using £400 million to accelerate new ships was not addressed directly

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Q2 Alec Shelbrooke Con Elmet and Rothwell
Defence
Context

The DIP commits to the procurement of six common combat vessels.

Question

I welcome the move to commit to the procurement of six common combat vessels in the DIP. I hope that they will be based on the hull of the Type 31, which is being built by the very skilled workforce at Rosyth in my constituency. Will the Minister take immediate action and work with me to progress the CCV programme so that hopefully we do not see a gap between the end of the Type 31 programme and the start of CCV construction?

Answer from Luke Pollard

I say seriously to the House that my hon. Friend has been an incredible advocate for Rosyth. I have met him on a large number of occasions, and he has been absolutely determined to talk not just about the potential of Rosyth, but about the professionalism of the men and women who work there and the opportunity for young people to have a career in shipbuilding.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific ask about working with MP on CCV programme progress was avoided

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Q3 Graeme Downie Lab
Defence
Context

There will be no new Type 83s or Type 32s, but some unspecified replacement is planned.

Question

We learned from the defence investment plan that there will be no new Type 83s or Type 32s, but we will get some unspecified, undetermined and uncrewed—and currently unbelievable—replacement. That is precisely the same sort of budget-cutting, finger-crossing nonsense from the MOD that sees the geriatric Land Rover not replaced until 2030, Sandown and Hunt removed before they are replaced, and C-130 retired before low-level parachute drops can take place from the A400M. Those are just three examples of the MOD missing its targets. Will the Secretary of State get a grip on the bean counters in the MOD, who apparently are not very good at counting beans? Will he commit to building all future complex warships on the Clyde or at Rosyth—preferably both?

Answer from Luke Pollard

It is unlike the SNP to be so positive about defence, isn't it? The Type 83 and Type 32 were PowerPoints—there was no budget attached to them. That is why in the defence investment plan we set out a plan for a common combat vessel and a hybrid Navy to fulfil the opportunities that the retirement of the Type 45 presents for us.

Not addressed: The specific ask about MOD budget management and shipbuilding locations was deflected by questioning the SNP's stance on defence

How: Changing The Subject

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Q4 Dave Doogan SNP
Defence
Context

No information provided, but the question implies concerns about RFA funding or support.

Question

The Royal Navy fleet obviously sits alongside the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Will the Minister confirm that he is committed to the RFA and its fleet expansion?

Answer from Luke Pollard

My hon. Friend really is the Member of Parliament for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, as she is determined to champion it so frequently. She will have seen in the defence investment plan our commitment to the new generation of fleet solid support ships, and she will have seen the work that this Government have undertaken since 2024 to address concerns raised with us about the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Answered
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Q5 Jayne Kirkham Labour (Co-op)
Defence
Context

The previous government's investment in docks and ship ordering was insufficient.

Question

What steps he is taking to increase the availability of the Royal Navy surface fleet. The defence investment plan sets out plans for a more lethal and larger Royal Navy, based on the hybrid model. Despite a lack of investment in docks and late ordering of ships under the previous Government, I can confirm that the Royal Navy continues to meet operational and NATO commitments.

Answer from Luke Pollard

The defence investment plan sets out plans for a more lethal and larger Royal Navy, based on the hybrid model. Despite a lack of investment in docks and late ordering of ships under the previous Government, I can confirm that the Royal Navy continues to meet operational and NATO commitments.

Answered
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