Every parliamentary written question tabled by Grahame Morris this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 39 · Ministry of Defence
Whether any UK military personnel were onboard the USS Charlotte (SSN-766) on 4 March 2026 and, if so, how many personnel were onboard.
We do not comment on the details of either submarine operations, or the details of individual assignments of UK Service personnel.
How many vacancies currently exist in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by seafarer grade.
Official statistical information regarding all civilians employed within the Ministry of Defence is released biannually. The last release was on 1 October 2025 and included the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. More information can be found at: Supplementary_tables_to_MOD_biannual_civilian_personnel_report_-_October_2025.ods. Grade specific data for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is not publicly released. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary continually monitors its workforce levels to ensure it can meet operational requirements.
If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the binding merchant shipping Statutory Instruments applicable under the MoD Ships Order in Council, listed in Annex A1 of the Regulations for Royal Fleet Auxiliaries BRd 875.
The binding merchant shipping statutory instruments applicable under the Minstry of Defence Ships Order in Council, are reviewed on a regular basis by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). This is part of ensuring the RFA’s Safety Management Systems continuous compliance with updated international and statutory regulations. Ongoing compliance is additionally monitored externally by the MCA as part of the annual Document of Compliance (DOC) audit process.
If he will publish the commercially managed ships currently in MoD service.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with commercial partners to deliver crucial defence outputs. Information regarding commercially managed ships in MOD service is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Whether it is his department’s policy to apply, on a voluntary basis, the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention to the (a) merchant navy seafarers and (b) vessels in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, does not apply to warships or naval auxiliaries, including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The Government has therefore not designated RFA vessels as ships to which the MLC formally applies. The Ministry of Defence ensures that all personnel serving on RFA vessels are provided with working and living conditions consistent with the principles of MLC wherever this is practicable and compatible with operational requirements.In respect of merchant navy seafarers employed by the Department, the Government fully applies the provisions of the MLC in line with UK merchant shipping legislation.
With reference to reports of the sale of the former Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels Wave Ruler and Wave Knight to Inocea Group, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) shipping industry representatives, (c) NATO allies and (d) trade unions on the record of Inocea subsidiaries in delivering naval auxiliary support services for NATO allies, including the Royal Canadian Navy.
The two ships in question had been tied up for some time under the last Government and we inherited a position where neither ship were planned to go to sea again. Disposal of former Royal Fleet Auxiliary assets is conducted in accordance with established Ministry of Defence (MOD) and wider His Majesty's Government policies. Officials engage with colleagues across Government and shipping industry representatives as required to ensure compliance with applicable defence, export control, and national‑security considerations during disposal activity. The MOD maintains regular dialogue with NATO Allies on operational, capability and interoperability matters. These discussions do not extend to the performance of commercial service providers contracted by other nations, which remain the responsibility of those nations.
With reference to Section C5 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defence and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, what information his Department holds on when the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries (RFA) Working Group last met; and if he will publish the recommendations this Working Group has made to the MOD-MCA MOU Management Committee to date.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) last met on 2 October 2025. The meeting was chaired by the MCA and included attendance from the RFA and Defence Maritime Regulator.
What recent discussions he has had with the (a) Royal Fleet Auxiliary and (b) the Secretary of State for Transport on the Memorandum of Understanding between his department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has regular working groups with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) which offer opportunities for amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between his MOD and the MCA. At the most recent MOD and MCA annual working group meeting chaired on the 12 November 2025 there were no formal requests for amendment to the overall MOD-MCA MOU received for this year, though several clarifications and feedback points have been noted for potential future updates. Internal discussions within the Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR) are planned to address clarifications, mainly regarding the approach to affected services, rather than substantive changes to the MOU itself.
What recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport and (b) Department for Transport agencies on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s adherence to applicable Merchant Shipping Regulations.
Under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Ministry of Defence Ships) order 1989 [Order in Council No 1991], the Royal Fleet Auxillary (RFA) was exempted from many aspects of the UK Merchant Shipping Acts in respect of registered vessels of the RFA. Although the RFA is exempt from a number of provisions within the Merchant Shipping Acts, it remains the Department’s policy to comply voluntarily. With the non‑mandatory elements, wherever practicable, the RFA will comply except where this would conflict with operational requirements.
If he will publish the names of the vessels on the UK Defence Shipping Register.
The Defence Shipping Register is a record of all vessels currently in service in the Ministry of Defence. Release of the list of vessels names would provide a complete picture of the size and capability of the service and allow individual vessel’s type, movements and locations to be traced using easily accessible public shipping trackers; I hope the hon. Member understands that it would therefore be inappropriate to release this information into the public domain.
How many and what the proportion of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s work has been outsourced to (a) commercial contractors and (b) international allies since January 2015 to date.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) routinely uses a blend of inhouse capability and contracted support to deliver marine engineering, logistics, and operational services in line with longstanding Defence Maritime Support policy. This work is commissioned on a vessel-by-vessel basis and varies from year-to-year depending on the RFA’s operational programme and maintenance cycles. The majority of RFA core operational activity is carried out directly by RFA civilian-crewed vessels.No RFA operational output has been outsourced to international allies. On occasion, allied naval tankers have provided replenishment-at-sea services to UK vessels under standard NATO interoperability arrangements, and UK RFA tankers have provided the same service in return. These reciprocal arrangements are routine across NATO navies.
What recent discussions he has had with (a) Royal Fleet Auxiliary and (b) recognised trade unions on the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations on the operational role of the RFA.
The Ministry of Defence maintains regular engagement with appropriate stakeholders concerning matters affecting the operational roles and capabilities of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
If he will publish the number of (a) women and (b) men employed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by seafarer grade.
Official statistical information regarding all civilians employed within the Ministry of Defence is released biannually. The last release was on 1 October 2025 and included the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. More information can be found at: Supplementary_tables_to_MOD_biannual_civilian_personnel_report_-_October_2025.ods. Grade specific data for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is not publicly released. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary continually monitors its workforce levels to ensure it can meet operational requirements.
How many replenishments at sea RFA’s Tide-class tankers have provided for international allies in each year since 2017 to date.
Tide-class tankers routinely support NATO, Joint Expeditionary Force partners, and other allied maritime operations while delivering the UK’s standing commitments worldwide. The data the hon. Member requires is not held in the format requested. However, we estimate that there have been in excess of 300 replenishment at sea provided to international allies by Tide-class tankers from 2017 to date.
If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the requirements in the Regulations for Royal Fleet Auxiliaries BRd 875 for Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships to carry copies of merchant navy legislation.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary carries merchant navy legislation in compliance with the regulations stated in all applicable International Maritime Organisation legislation. The application of national regulation to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is subject to regular review under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Ministry of Defence.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of using bareboat chartering commercial vessels to augment the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s work supporting Royal Navy operations.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary continues to provide the Royal Navy’s afloat support using its own civilian crewed vessels.
Whether his Department applies the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention to the (a) merchant navy seafarers and (b) vessels in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
The Ministry of Defence applies the Maritime Labour Convention in accordance with its application in UK Legislation. Where a Disapplication, Exemption or Derogation exists in UK legislation, then Secretary of State for Defence’s Policy on Health and Safety places the obligation on the Department to comply with outcomes at least as good as UK legislation. This is coupled with the Defence Maritime Regulator as an independent Health, Safety and Environmental protection regulator to implement independent assurance of the implementation of legislation such as the Maritime Labour Convention and Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
What the (a) inspection dates and (b) deficiencies recorded were by officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency following inspection of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels in each year since 2014.
Routine surveys and inspections of RFA vessels have been completed in accordance with statutory requirements and timeline. All corrective actions or deficiencies have been pursued by both the RFA and the appropriate regulators and certifying bodies. Deficiencies raised across all surveys are actioned as a matter of priority and evidenced to the appropriate regulatory body for closure within the agreed time frame.
How many inspections of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have been carried out by officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency since the updated Memorandum of Understanding was published in November 2024.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) as an organisation have been audited, inspected or surveyed approximately 30 times since the Memorandum of Understanding was updated in November 2024. This is a combination of RFA ship specific surveys and RFA organisational safety systems audits, capturing the holistic safety management of the RFA in accordance with Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Defence Maritime Regulator regulations.
If he will make an estimate of the number of civilian seafarers in scope of the (a) Defence Maritime Regulator and (b) the Memorandum of Understanding between the MoD and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
As of the 6 February 2026, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary had 1,741 employees, who are under the scope of the dual regulatory requirements of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Defence Maritime Regulator.