HC Deb 05 July 1982 vol 27 cc38-40W
Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the value in each year from 1974 of orders placed for major warships of frigate class and above, excluding SSBN submarines.

Mr. Pattie

The information is as follows:

Financial year Current prices 1981–2 Prices
£ £
1974–75 Nil Nil
1975–76 139.1 324.8
1976–77 358.1 756.1
1977–78 239.3 474.5
1978–79 490.6 779.4
1979–80 471.4 709.5
1980–81 Nil Nil
1981–82 418.2 455.6

As my right hon. Friend said to the House on 1 July, substantial orders are planned for the current financial year.—[Vol 26, c. 1063.]

Mr. Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many major warships, of frigate class and above and excluding SSBN submarines, have come into service between May 1979 and June 1982; how many are expected to enter service by 1987; and how many were ordered before May 1979.

Mr. Blaker

The following major warships were accepted into service between May 1979 and June 1982; all were ordered before May 1979.

Carriers

  • HMS "Invincible"
  • HMS "Illustrious"

Destroyers

  • HMS "Cardiff"
  • HMS "Exeter"
  • HMS "Southampton"
  • HMS "Liverpool"

Frigates

  • HMS "Battleaxe"
  • HMS "Brilliant"
  • HMS "Brazen"

SSNs

  • HMS "Spartan"
  • HMS "Splendid"

The following ships are expected to enter service by 1987.

Carrier

  • "Ark Royal"

Destroyers

  • "Nottingham"
  • "Manchester"
  • "Gloucester"
  • "Edinburgh"
  • "York"

Frigates

  • "Boxer"
  • "Beaver"
  • 07
  • 08

SSNs

  • "Trafalgar"
  • "Turbulent"
    • 40
  • "Tireless"
  • 16

Ten of these 14 ships were ordered before May 1979.

In addition we have announced our intention to order a seventeenth SSN and a ninth type 22 frigate, although it is not possible to say at this stage whether they will enter service by 1987.