Navy: Deployment
Defence
Nick Harvey (North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days each Royal Navy frigate spent on non-operational deployment for (a) diplomatic engagements and (b) defence industry exhibitions in each of the last five years.
Bill Rammell (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Harlow, Labour)
The Royal Navy does not deploy with the sole aim of diplomatic engagements or defence industry exhibitions; this is done on an opportunity basis. These types of engagements are undertaken when a vessel is located in, or passing through the region. Details of these engagements for the past five years are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.