HC Deb 15 July 1980 vol 988 cc1224-5
17. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many vessels of the Royal Navy, designed for minesweeping and mine counter-measure purposes, are currently in service; and how many he expects to be in service in 1983.

Mr. Pattie

A total of 34 mine counter-measure vessels are currently in service. On the basis of present orders one VT2 hovercraft—for MCM support duties—and four more HUNTs will have been added by the end of 1983. Four TON class vessels will by then have paid off. As the Defence White Paper said, we also plan to introduce a new class of mine-sweeping trawlers.

Mr. Hardy

Does the Minister agree that the mine-sweeping and mine countermeasure roles should be afforded a much higher priority than that now given to larger and more costly vessels, including Trident?

Mr. Pattie

The mine-sweeping role is extremely important. As the hon. Gentleman has said, all urgent needs must be ranked in an appropriate order of priorities.

Mr. Banks

Does my hon. Friend agree that the Soviet Union has a large and formidable stock of mines and an equally formidable mine-laying capability? Will he raise this issue in NATO circles to ensure that the approaches are adequately protected with a sufficient fleet of mine-sweepers and mine-hunters?

Mr. Pattie

I am sure that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy will have noted what my hon. Friend has said. We shall take an early opportunity to raise that matter in NATO circles.

Mr. James Johnson

Will the Minister say from where the new vessels will come? Is he aware that in the past we have suggested that the Government should use old, but active and good, vessels that are no longer fishing at sea? I refer to vessels such as the "Arctic Galliard" and the "Arctic Buccaneer", presently in Hull.

Mr. Pattie

I am aware of the suggestions made by the hon. Gentleman in the past about the use of the vessels that he has described. He will be aware that it is not simply a question of the capital costs of acquiring such vessels, but whether their lifetime costs and the costs of fitting various specialist pieces of equipment to them in service will necessarily provide the best bargain for the defence forces.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Are there enough mine-sweepers for the security of the Straits of Hormuz? If necessary, will the Government consider transferring British or allied mine-sweepers to the sultanate of Oman?

Mr. Pattie

I am sure that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy will have heard what my hon. Friend has said. We shall consider that suggestion in the light of possible redeployment outside the NATO area.

Mr. Duffy

Because the need for MCMVs is so urgent, will the Minister bear in mind the urgings of my hon. Friends about looking more urgently to mine-sweeping trawlers and, preferably—as my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) said—looking to those trawlers that are now laid up at Humberside?

Mr. Pattie

I assure the hon. Gentleman that the matter is being given urgent consideration.