Question follow-through · 40428

Merlin Helicopters: Trident Submarines

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role the Merlin Out of Service Date Extension Programme has in support of the Continuous At Sea Deterrent.

answeredMinistry of Defence

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Tabled
24 Mar 2025
Target answer date
27 Mar 2025
Answer
27 Mar 2025 · 3 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

More questions by this MP on Defence and foreign affairs

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Recorded timeline

  1. 24 Mar 2025

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role the Merlin Out of Service Date Extension Programme has in support of the Continuous At Sea Deterrent.

  2. 27 Mar 2025

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 27 Mar 2025

    Answer published

    The Merlin Out of Service Date Extension Programme supports the Continuous At Sea Deterrent by extending the operational life of the Merlin helicopter fleet until 2040. These helicopters provide essential anti-submarine warfare capabilities, ensuring th...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

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Diego Garcia: Military Bases

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Chagos Islands: Sovereignty

26 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any portion of the £2.2 billion spending uplift for the Ministry of Defence in the 2025-26 financial year is allocated to cover costs associated with the Chagos agreement.

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Chagos Islands: Sovereignty

26 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Parliament will be provided with an updated briefing on the Chagos deal’s implications, in the context of the reported U.S. military build-up at Diego Garcia and its potential to extend operations.

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Defence: Finance

26 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 1.2.of the Office for Budget Responsibility's report entitled Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published on 26 March 2025, what assessment he has made of the (a) affordability and (b) achi

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Challenger Tanks: Procurement

27 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the total cost of the Challenger 3 programme which include budget increases due to (a) technical challenges or (b) inflation; and how this aligns with the original £800 million

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Challenger Tanks: Procurement

27 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help mitigate potential delays in the Challenger 3 programme achieving Initial Operating Capability by 2027.

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Challenger Tanks: Ammunition

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Challenger Tanks: Repairs and Maintenance

27 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the Challenger 3 remains competitive against (a) Russia’s T-14 Armata and (b) other emerging threats; and whether he plans to upgrade the (i) firepower and

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HMS Northumberland and Type 26 Frigates

27 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of retiring HMS Northumberland on the Royal Navy’s operational capacity; and what steps he is taking to support the Royal Navy until the Type 26 fri

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Ministry of Defence: Written Questions

2 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 36052 on Strategic Defence Review: Contracts, tabled on 6 March 2025 by the Rt hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Strategic Defence Review

7 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence Review will be published before the Comprehensive Spending Review on the 11th June.

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Strategic Defence Review: Public Appointments

8 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 36052 on Strategic Defence Review: Contracts, whether there have been any amendments to the (a) duration, (b) remuneration and (c) other contractual terms of (i)