§ Captain Kerbyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the fact that the aircraft-detection frigate "Lincoln", laid down in 1952–53, is still on the stocks and the anti-aircraft frigate "Leopard" launched in 1955, is still nowhere near completion, whether he is satisfied that, whilst there have been no cancellations in the frigate programme, there have been no undue delays in the completion of these two ships; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. AllanH.M.S. "Lincoln" was in fact laid down in June, 1955, and not in 1952–53. An earlier start was prevented owing to the prior claims of merchant shipbuilding on the shipyard.
H.M.S. "Leopard" which was launched at Portsmouth Dockyard in May, 1955, is expected to be completed this year. Progress has been affected by the priority demands made on the dockyard's resources by the immense task of reconstructing and fitting out the aircraft carrier "Victorious."