Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which military assets are tasked with the defence of UK-owned maritime offshore installations.

Mr Mark Francois, Minister of State for the Armed Forces: Defence provides support to the civil powers in defence of UK-owned maritime offshore installations through the provision of a guaranteed maritime capability, in excess of that which the civil powers can provide for themselves. This ranges from advice, through surveillance and reconnaissance to military intervention.

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