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France: Aircraft Carriers

Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made of the likely availability for service of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle between 2020 and 2035; (2) what recent reports he has received on (a) the availability for service and (b) maintenance performed on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle; and if he will make a statement. [24000]

Nick Harvey: The UK and France have agreed to develop the capability to deploy a UK-French integrated carrier strike group, incorporating assets owned by both countries, by the early 2020s. Work to achieve this is at an early stage and will take account, among other things, of the availability of each nation's naval assets.