Question
Our subsea infrastructure is incredibly important; we know from recent reports that the Russians have been sniffing around it in their GUGI submarines, and that Russian trawlers have been investigating our undersea infrastructure. I am very concerned that we have only one UK-based and UK-flagged repair ship, the CS Sovereign, which is due to go out of service in 2030. Six months ago, I asked the former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology what it was doing to investigate replacing that capability. Could the Minister give us assurance about the Government’s plans to ensure that we have UK-based and UK-flagged repair capability for our subsea infrastructure?
Answer
The hon. and gallant Gentleman makes a really important point about subsea infrastructure. It is something in which I have taken a particular interest, working with colleagues across Government, including those in the Ministry of Defence. He is right to mention the threat from Russia, which is well understood. I know he will understand that there is always a balance to be struck, both in recognising the threat that we face and in ensuring that we are properly prepared to defend against it. At the same time—the director general of MI5 made this point—we should not make the Russians out to be better than they are and do the propaganda work on their behalf, but the hon. Gentleman makes an important point. Let me look more carefully at the detail, and I will come back to him with a more precise response.
Verdict: RED (12/100) DEFERRED
The question asked what plans exist to build UK-based or UK-flagged capability to repair subsea infrastructure. The reply acknowledges that subsea infrastructure matters, mentions cross-government work including the Ministry of Defence, and notes the Russian threat. It does not describe any plan for repair capability and ends by promising a more precise response later, so the substantive question remains unanswered.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What are the Government's plans to ensure that the UK has UK-based and UK-flagged repair capability for its subsea infrastructure? | Deferred | Generic | The reply acknowledges subsea infrastructure as important, mentions cross-government work including MoD, and notes the Russian threat, but never describes any plan for UK-based or UK-flagged repair capability. It ends by promising to 'come back with a more precise response', which defers the substantive answer. |