§ Sir Patrick Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence what, in the light of his proposals, will be the number of destroyers and frigates, respectively, in operational service in five years' time.
§ Mr. BlakerIt is not our practice to give details of the forecast operational availability of warships. But, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence indicated in his statement on 25 June, we shall seek to maintain the total number of destroyers and frigates available to NATO at about 50. Some eight of these will be in the standby squadron.