Written questions by Rosindell.

What the armed forces' current operational posture is for protecting merchant shipping in the Middle East and adjacent sea lanes; and what role Royal Navy frigates are undertaking within that posture.

Awaiting answer.

If he will release a non-classified summary of Royal Navy tasking, deployments and readiness measures relevant to the protection of merchant shipping and UK economic interests.

Awaiting answer.

What co-ordination is taking place with (a) NATO allies and (b) international partners to secure maritime trade routes in the Middle East and deter attacks on commercial shipping.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking with allies to support deterrence and security in the Taiwan Strait.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions he has held with his Spanish counterpart regarding the application of Spanish airspace or basing policies in ways that could affect Gibraltar or UK access to the territory.

The Defence and Foreign Secretaries meet regularly with their Spanish counterparts to discuss a range of issues of shared strategic interest. These recent interactions have not included discussion on the transit through Spanish airspace of UK military aircraft arriving at or departing from RAF Gibraltar.

Whether the Government has alternative contingency arrangements in place to ensure uninterrupted defence and security support for Gibraltar should allied access through Spanish airspace or facilities be restricted.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

Whether his Department has assessed the potential operational impact of Spanish restrictions on allied military aircraft on UK military mobility or contingency planning in the Western Mediterranean, including in relation to Gibraltar.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

What assessment he has made of the implications of Spain’s current airspace policy for NATO interoperability and collective defence in the Western Mediterranean region.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Spanish Government's decision to restrict the use of Spanish airspace and military facilities for certain allied military operations on the UK’s defence, security and diplomatic interests relating to Gibraltar.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

Whether he has (a) sought and (b) received reassurances from the Spanish Government that recent restrictions on military airspace use will not be applied in a manner that could prejudice the UK's (i) ongoing and (ii) future arrangements concerning Gibraltar.

The draft Agreement reached between the UK and the European Union in respect of Gibraltar fully protects the UK's ability to operate to, through, and from our military facilities in Gibraltar.RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight ban by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements.

What steps the Government is taking to ensure that UK sovereignty, access and operational freedom in Gibraltar are not indirectly affected by unilateral policy decisions taken by neighbouring states.

The draft Agreement reached between the UK and the European Union in respect of Gibraltar fully protects the UK’s sovereignty, access and operational freedom in Gibraltar.

For what reason the French Navy responded more quickly than the Royal Navy to the recent drone incident in Cyprus.

We cannot comment on the deployment decisions of other nations.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the operational readiness of the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy maintains a high state of operational readiness across its core capabilities, including the Continuous At Sea Deterrent, Carrier Strike, frigates and destroyers, submarines, aviation, the Royal Marines and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The Fleet is deployed globally to protect the UK’s security and interests, working alongside allies and partners.It is important to understand readiness as a constant cycle with ships moving regularly through maintenance, training, deployment and recovery phases. For reasons of operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not give detailed information on past or current levels of readiness for individual Royal Navy warships.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK’s military capability to defend the Falkland Islands from potential aggression.

I refer the hon. gentleman to the response given to Question 118648 on 16 March 2026. For operational and personnel security reasons we do not disclose the precise force levels deployed in the South Atlantic.

How many Royal Navy destroyers and frigates were fully operational and deployable at immediate readiness in each of the last 12 months.

The Royal Navy maintains a high state of operational readiness across its core capabilities, including the Continuous At Sea Deterrent, Carrier Strike, frigates and destroyers, submarines, aviation, the Royal Marines and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The Fleet is deployed globally to protect the UK’s security and interests, working alongside allies and partners.It is important to understand readiness as a constant cycle with ships moving regularly through maintenance, training, deployment and recovery phases. For reasons of operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not give detailed information on past or current levels of readiness for individual Royal Navy warships.

What the force levels are at RAF Mount Pleasant; and whether he plans to review them.

I refer the hon. gentleman to the response given to Question 118648 on 16 March 2026. For operational and personnel security reasons we do not disclose the precise force levels deployed in the South Atlantic.

When his Department last conducted a review of the UK’s defence posture in the South Atlantic; and whether he plans to commission a new assessment.

I refer the hon. gentleman to the response given to Question 118648 on 16 March 2026. For operational and personnel security reasons we do not disclose the precise force levels deployed in the South Atlantic.

What factors contributed to the time taken between the drone attack on Cyprus and the deployment of HMS Dragon from Portsmouth.

We do not comment on deployment decisions for reasons of operational security.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of deploying additional missile defence systems to allies in the Gulf, such as the UAE and Bahrain.

This remains an extremely challenging and unsettling time for many across the Middle East. The UK condemns Iran’s role in attempting to draw the region into a wider conflict. Our priority is to protect British nationals, British interests and our partners and allies in the Gulf. We support action that will help bring a swift resolution to this conflict, and an end to Iran's reckless and escalatory response As part of our contribution, the UK has deployed additional military capabilities to the region. As confirmed by the Prime Minister in his statement on 5 March 2026, an additional four Typhoon aircraft are now deployed to Qatar to provide regional defensive counter air including UAE and Bahrain. RAF Typhoon and F-35 aircraft are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar, and Cyprus and the wider Gulf region in defence of British interests and allies. We continue to assess other assistance requested from our regional partners. Ministry of Defence are leveraging the expertise of British Defence Industry to enhance our regional partners’ defensive capabilities, particularly regarding C-UAS and Air Defence. Defence Attachés in the region have an updated list of UK companies who have capability to support have been engaging with our partners across the Gulf to understand their requests. We are working at pace to match Middle East requirements with Industry offers. We are also facilitating Government to Industry (G2I) connections for Middle East countries and UK Industry to hasten support to our regional partners.

If he will list enforcement and detention incidents involving Cuban vessels in each of the last five years.

Available Royal Navy operational records show no enforcement or detention incidents involving Cuban‑flagged vessels in the past five years.