Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase anti-submarine warfare capacity.

Stuart Andrew, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Defence Procurement: The new ship, submarine and aircraft procurement programme has included the continual review of our anti-submarine warfare capabilities. As part of this process the Royal Air Force expect to receive the first P-8A POSEIDON Maritime Patrol Aircraft towards the end of 2019, with the Type 26 ships, not the Type 31e, providing the primary anti-submarine warfare capability for the Royal Navy.