§ Mr. Pattieasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the long refit or conversion of (a) HM "Triumph", (b) 287W HMS "Abdiel" and (c) HMS "Bristol" will be completed.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe Fleet Maintenance Ship HMS "Triumph" is not undergoing refit or conversion but is being maintained at Chatham. HM Ships "Abdiel" and "Bristol" are expected to complete their refits in late 1977.
§ Mr. Pattieasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the construction delays of the following ships: (a) cruiser CAH, HMS "Invincible", (b) Type 42 destroyers, HMS "Cardiff", HMS "Coventry", HMS "Newcastle" and HMS "Glasgow", (c) Type 22 frigates, HMS "Broadsword" and HMS "Battleaxe"(d) Type 21 frigates, HMS" Active", HMS Alacrity", HMS "Ardent" and HMS "Avenger", (e) MCMV HMS" Brecon", and (f) offshore patrol vessels HMS "Guernsey", HMS "Lindisfarne" and HMS "Shetland".
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThese ships are still under construction. The dates to which the shipbuilders are now working represents delays to the original contract date as indicate below:
No delay:
HMS "Broadsword", HMS "Battleaxe", HMS "Guernsey", HMS "Lindisfarne", HMS "Shetland".Up to a year's delay:
HMS "Brecon".One to two years' delay:
HMS "Invincible", HMS "Newcastle", HMS "Glasgow", HMS "Alacrity", HMS "Ardent", HMS "Avenger".Over two years' delay:
HMS "Cardiff", HMS "Coventry", HMS "Active".
§ Mr. Pattieasked the Secretary of State for Defence why HMS "Guernsey" appears in Annex D, page 92 of Command Paper No. 6432 as coming into service during 1976–77 and again in Annex D, page 78 of Command Paper No. 6735 as coming into service during 1977–78.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIt was originally planned that the second vessel of the Island class should be named HMS "Guernsey" and it was on this basis that she was included in Command 6432 as coming into service during 1976–77. It was subsequently decided that this ship288W should instead be named HMS "Orkney", and she was accepted into service in January 1977, a few weeks ahead of schedule. The name HMS "Guernsey" now belongs to the fourth of the class; it is planned to accept the ship into service later this year.
§ Mr. Pattieasked the Secretary of State for Defence which yard is constructing (a) HMS "Guernsey" and (b) HMS "Lindisfarne".
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownBoth vessels are being built at the yard of Hall Russell Limited, Aberdeen.