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Question follow-through · 3204

Middle East: Merchant Shipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the armed forces' current operational posture is for protecting merchant shipping in the Middle East and adjacent sea lanes; and what role Royal Navy frigates are undertaking within that posture.

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
20 May 2026
Target answer date
1 Jun 2026
Answer
2 Jun 2026 · 13 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

Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.

Votes on this topic

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Recorded timeline

  1. 20 May 2026

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the armed forces' current operational posture is for protecting merchant shipping in the Middle East and adjacent sea lanes; and what role Royal Navy frigates are undertaking within that posture.

  2. 1 Jun 2026

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 2 Jun 2026

    Answer published

    The Government keeps deployments and force posture under constant review. I cannot comment further for reasons of operational security. Securing maritime trade in the Middle East, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz requires a combined international effo...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

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