§ 3.18 p.m.
Baroness VICKERSMy 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 how many ships of the Royal Navy are to be fitted with an improved type of kit locker, reading lights on bunks and better ventilation, and how many of the ships are due to he scrapped before 1980.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, improved type kit lockers are to be fitted in "Invincible" class anti-submarine warfare cruisers and Type 22 frigates currently under construction. As none of these ships has yet entered service, the question of scrapping before 1980 does not arise. Bunk reading lights are a standard fitment on all Royal Navy ships. The ventilation system installed during the construction of a ship is refurbished as necessary during its life.
Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. I do not know whether he has seen the prototype which is on view at Portsmouth, having been passed by the Admiralty in 1973, but I should like to raise two points, if I may. First, will such things really now fit into the newest ships which are being built? Secondly, can he assure me that the "Ark Royal", and ships of that type, will not have these fitted, as they will be out of service before they can be occupied? I should like to say to him, if I may, that I am naturally in favour of improvements for the Royal Navy but I do not think one should be too extravagant in these amounts.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, certainly the type of kit locker will fit into the two classes of ships I mentioned. 1113 The point made by the noble Baroness I find difficult to answer. It is very difficult to state in detail what is done to ships which come in for a refit—which is the Question that I think the noble Baroness is asking. I can only repeat that the ventilation system, which is important, is reviewed and renewed during various periodical refurbishings of the ship. Bunk reading lights are standard fittings.