§ 3.16 p.m.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to build for the Royal Navy ships designed for the protection of oil rigs in the North Sea.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, five new ships of the "Island" Class are being provided to the Royal Navy for offshore protection tasks, including protection of oil installations in the North Sea. Three have already been accepted for service with the Royal Navy and the remaining two are due to be accepted later this year.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that these ships have been very much criticised for their lack of speed, and is he satisfied that in these circumstances they can perform adequately the very serious increasing commitment, referred to in the Defence White Paper, to defend these installations?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, their 16 knots is adequate for the job in this limited area. The qualities they must have are good sea-keeping and good communications, and these they have. If higher speed is required, or a greater force, they only have to communicate 756 with the headquarters and others of the Armed Forces could be sent to assist them.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, is the report correct that none the less the Government are considering bringing into operation at least one hydrofoil which would have the speed required to make arrests, not only with a view to the defence of our oil platforms but also from the point of view of fishery patrol?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I cannot answer that question at the moment, but if the noble Lord will table another Question I will try to answer it. In fact, if speed is required frigates are used, and arrests have been made by frigates which have been summoned by a ship of the type of the "Island" Class.