Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 6.55 of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence Review 2015, what assessment he has made of the Royal Navy’s operational need for an additional two offshore patrol vessels; what estimate he has made of the total cost of each such vessel; and what estimate he has made of the size of crew required by each such vessel.

Mr Philip Dunne

As outlined in the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence Review 2015 (Cmd 9161), we will buy new River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to deliver a more modern and capable fleet. These ships will support our destroyers and frigates in delivering routine tasks and to enhance our contribution to maritime security and fisheries protection, working with the Border Force, Marine Management Organisation and other law enforcement organisations.

We have begun the detailed work to take forward the plans to buy the new OPVs. The cost of each vessel and the size of the ships’ companies have yet to be determined.