§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) reviews and (b) studies his Department is conducting on the operational capability of the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [138241]
§ Mr. SpellarThe operational capability of the Royal Navy is kept under continual review. This allows the RN to take into consideration changing circumstances. In addition, at any one time, it is likely that a number of more formal reviews or studies with a wider remit will be taking place, any one of which may impact on the area of operational capability. It is the nature of operational issues that much of this work is classified.