§ Mr. Robert Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the ships currently under construction on order from the Ministry of Defence, the dates their keels were laid, the completion date on the original contract, and the date when completion is now expected for each.
§ 21 Dr. GilbertWarships of the size of mine countermeasures vessels and above under construction for the Royal Navy and the dates their keels were laid are as follows:
SHIP AND DATE KEEL LAID
Submarines
HMS "Sceptre: February 1974
HMS "Spartan": April 1976
SSN-12 (not yet named):—
Cruisers
HMS "Invincible": July 1973
HMS "Illustrious": October 1976
Type
HMS "Cardiff": November 1972
HMS "Coventry": January 1973
HMS "Newcastle": February 1973
HMS "Glasgow": April 1974.
HMS "Exeter": July 1976
HMS "Southampton": October 1976
42-09 (not yet named):—
Type
HMS "Broadsword": February 1975
HMS "Battleaxe": February 1976
HMS "Brilliant": March 1977.
Type
HMS "Active": July 1971
HMS "Ardent": February 1974
HMS " Avenger ": October 1974
In the case of the mine countermeasures vessels, which are made of glass reinforced plastic, the equivalent date when the hull was laid up, is:
Mine Countermeasures Vessels and Date hull laid up
HMS "Brecon": October 1975
MCMV-02:—
It is not Ministry of Defence practice to give expected completion dates for ships under construction.