§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends that the planned sale of HMS "Dido" and other ships to other countries is still to proceed; and what plans he has for their replacement.
§ Mr. PattieAs announced in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Speed)—[Vol. 29, c.196.]—on 21 October, HMS "Dido" has been sold to New Zealand and will be handed over in July 1983. No negotiations are currently in progress to sell any other major warship to a foreign Government. The medium term size of the destroyer-frigate force is being kept under review.