At Defence Questions in January, Sarah asked Bob Ainsworth, Minister for the Armed Forces about the modernisation of the Royal Navy Fleet. As well as agreeing that Labour's commitment to building new modern warships enables the Royal Navy to discharge it's obligations both at home and abroad, the Minister paid tribute to Sarah's campaigning on behalf of her constituency during the Naval Base Review.

In a side swipe at the allegations in the latest Tory leaflets circulating in Portsmouth the Minister said "Portsmouth has not only a fantastic Royal Navy history, but a fantastic Navy future as well."