Submarines

Dr. Julian Lewis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what operational roles are allocated to the attack submarine fleet; and how many boats must be deployed to fulfil them.

Mr. Bob Ainsworth
The roles of attack submarines include strikes against land targets using Tomahawk missiles; anti-submarine and anti-surface unit warfare; insertion and recovery of special forces; surveillance; and reconnaissance. I cannot comment in detail on the operational tasking of attack submarines or the number deployed at any one time, as this would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of the armed forces.

There are currently nine boats available to undertake these tasks. As regards the number available in the future, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 29 October 2007, Official Report, column 983W.