Frigates and Destroyers

HC Deb 26 April 1988 vol 132 cc196-7

12. Mr. Douglas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of frigates and destroyers currently operationally available to fulfil the United Kingdom's commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Mr. Ian Stewart

There are currently 49 destroyers and frigates in service with the Fleet, of which 42 are available for operational deployment immediately or within a short period. A number of these ships are at present outside the NATO area, but could be recalled in the event of an emergency.

Mr. Douglas

Would the Minister care to inform the House whether he includes in those 42 the ships now deployed in the Armilla patrol? In view of their sparse numbers, will he give some indicaton of when the Government will order the next batch of type 23s? It is important to shipbuilding yards in the Clyde and elsewhere that those orders are placed.

Mr. Stewart

The Government appreciate the importance of the orders that the hon. Gentleman has mentioned. He will know that we have received tenders for up to four new type 23s, which are currently being evaluated. An announcement will be made at the proper time.

Certainly the figure for destroyers and frigates includes those in the Armilla patrol. They do a first-class job for the country, and I am proud that they should be included in the Fleet. However, the suggestion that that makes it impossible for our destroyers and frigates to carry out the remainder of their task is wrong. The Royal Navy has the largest fleet of destroyers and frigates of any European country in NATO, and our ships carry out all our NATO obligations in full.

Mr. Kilfedder

What would be the effect on the defence capabilities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation if the ports of Northern Ireland were no longer available to NATO's vessels?

Mr. Stewart

The effectiveness of the defence of Western Europe depends on the availability of as many ports and bases as possible. I would not want to think that the proposition that the hon. Gentleman has put forward needs be taken into account in practice.

Mr. O'Neill

Is the Minister aware that the chaos in procurement, which is resulting in the beggaring of many of the yards that should be providing type 23 frigates and others, is evidence of the total disarray in which the Government's naval planning now rests, because of the burden that has to be carried by the rest of the Fleet to finance the Trident project?

Mr. Stewart

No, Sir. I absolutely disagree. We already have as many as eight destroyers and frigates under construction, and we expect to continue ordering to maintain the figure of around 50 frigates in our Fleet. I dispute what the hon. Gentleman has said.