Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to replace the fleet of mine countermeasure vessels after 2020.

Mr Philip Dunne, Minister of State for Defence Procurement: The Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking a lengthy assessment phase for a replacement Mine Countermeasures and Hydrographic capability through multi-national co-operation; principally with France as part of the Lancaster House agreement. A range of options is being considered to modernise mine countermeasures systems and remove the man from the minefield through use of the latest unmanned technological solutions and remote operating systems. Decisions on the type and number of platforms which will operate these systems will follow later in programme

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