UK Territorial Waters 2020-11-02
2020-11-02
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP is concerned about the protection of UK territorial waters, specifically mentioning the north Atlantic and North Sea.
What recent steps has his Department taken to protect UK territorial waters in the (a) north Atlantic and (b) North sea?
The protection of UK territorial waters is a cross-Government responsibility. The Ministry of Defence contributes by providing a multi-layered capability to deter incursions into territorial waters, including surface ships and submarines based on the Clyde and Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft based at RAF Lossiemouth.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific steps in the North Atlantic and North Sea were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP is concerned about the readiness of UK armed forces to handle various threats, including people and drug trafficking and foreign incursions into territorial waters.
Can the Secretary of State tell us his plans to ensure that our armed forces can cope with multiple tasks, including combating people and drug trafficking, and foreign incursion into our territorial waters and airspace? Will they specifically live up to the Government's promise to establish a frigate factory on the Clyde?
Firstly, we cope with securing our borders through burden sharing and working across agencies including Scottish Government for fisheries protection. On a frigate factory, the last two major shipbuilding contracts for defence have been placed in Scotland: Type 26 on the Clyde and Type 31 at Rosyth.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Details about handling threats were not provided, only general principles.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of surface warships in Scottish waters despite them comprising over 60% of UK waters.
Scottish waters comprise over 60% of the UK's waters, yet we have no surface warships. In fact, the most northerly surface warship base is located at the south coast of England, which means that scrambling a fleet ready escort takes over 24 hours to reach Scottish waters. Given that there are almost monthly transgressions into Scottish waters and we need regular patrols, why is the Rosyth base being scrapped?
The hon. Gentleman's claim could have some credibility if his party was not busy trying to scrap the HM submarine base on the Clyde and to push the submarines out of Scotland.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific reason for scrapping Rosyth base was not addressed.
Redirecting Criticism Towards Opposition
Response accuracy