§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what elements of an air defence umbrella are available to ships of the Armilla patrol, and other allied navies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartIt is not for me to comment on the capabilities of allied navies, but I can confirm that the ships of the Armilla patrol are equipped with an air defence capability relevant to the range of threats they face in carrying out their operational tasks. It would not be in the interests of the safety of our naval forces engaged in the Armilla patrol to reveal specific capabilities.