Britain short on ships and sailors, MPs say

A Commons report has found that Britain is ‘worrying low’ on warships, a number which members of the Defence Select Committee say could fall unless older vessels are replaced.

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt, the former minister of state for the armed forces said: ‘The Royal Navy have worked hard to get more time on operations for the fleet, but the bottom line is we need a bigger surface fleet and a bigger frigate fleet.

Portsmouth South MP Flick Drummond said: ‘These are not new concerns, but the report and the threats we face, have put them into sharper focus and that is most welcome.

‘While the vessels we have been building over the last decade are the most technologically-advanced in the world, we must make sure we have enough of them.’

However, Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage says that Type 45 destroyers can be seen tied up in Portsmouth and there are not enough sailors to go on board them.

Ms Dinenage said: ‘I think what we are low on is the people to go on them, particularly engineers.

‘That is why it is foolish to shut HMS Sultan, who deliver engineering in what Ofsted says is an outstanding way.

‘There is also a different global threat. It is also about having the resources to tackle other forms such as cyber threats.’