To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his Department’s policy to keep Royal Navy warships at sea for longer periods when required operationally by allocating two crews to each vessel. (278245)

It is not the Department’s policy to keep Royal Navy warships at sea for longer periods when required operationally by routinely allocating two crews to each vessel. The Royal Navy has traditionally employed different manning solutions on different platforms, depending on operational and personnel needs. Recent trials of more naval approaches have shown no advantage over this traditional, mixed approach.