Offshore Protection Vessels (Hansard, 20 January 1981)

§ 9. Mr. Stephen Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is still satisfied that the offshore protection vessels already in service and under construction provide the best value for money for the task.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Keith Speed)
Yes, Sir.

§ Mr. Ross
If the Minister is looking for savings in his Department, which one assumes are to be made, is not this one area in which, as informed circles believe, savings can be made by using aircraft and ships which are already under construction or in use in other parts of the country, which could do the job more quickly? Can he tell us what sales have yet been achieved for any of the OPVs now under construction in British yards?

§ Mr. Speed
The two that are under construction at the moment are not yet in commission with the Royal Navy. I have seen them both. They represent a significant increase in capability over the Island class, which itself has done very well. I have no doubt at all that if we would stop knocking this design, which is a very good design, and back up Hall Russell which is building them, there is a very good export potential indeed, because these vessels can operate helicopters, have a very good endurance and a very good speed.

§ Mr. Viggers
Does the Minister agree that the greatest need at the moment in the fleet is for a smaller, robust and cheaper ship of about 2,000 tons which would have a helicopter-carrying capacity without a hangar capacity and that we could perhaps seek export orders in this regard as well?

§ Mr. Speed
My hon. Friend refers to the type 23 frigate. I am pursuing that with energy.

§ Mr. Douglas
Will the Minister concede that among the most important features of these vessels are increased speed and better sea-keeping capability?

§ Mr. Speed
Yes, Sir. That is the new Castle class OPV which is stabilised, twin screw and will have a 10,000-mile range.

§ Mr. George Robertson
Although most of Britain's defence needs are by their very nature hypothetical, the need to protect our fisheries and offshore installations is obvious, real and immediate. Will the Minister say whether the Ministry of Defence intends to cancel any future orders for small ships in the coming year?

§ Mr. Speed
No, Sir.