Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Merchant Navy to the aims and objectives of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois, Minister of State for the Armed Forces: A review of the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) strategic sealift requirement conducted in 2011 concluded that, for the movement of cargo by sea, strategic support should be primarily provided through the private finance initiative Strategic Sealift Service. This service comprises four British flagged roll-on/roll-off vessels manned by British mercantile marine officers and crews.