HC Deb 16 November 1982 vol 32 cc157-8W
Sir Patrick Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what ships specified in his Minister of State's answer on 30 April, Official Report, c. 386, have already been disposed of; and what ships have been or will be retained.

Mr. Blaker

Of the ships listed in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Speed) on 30 April—[Vol. 22, c.386.]—the following 12 major warships are no longer in the active fleet:

Her Majesty's Ships Date of withdrawal from active fleet
"Blake" 1980
"Ashanti" 1980
"Mohawk" 1980
"Nubian" 1980
"Eskimo" 1980
"Brighton" March 1981
"Bulwark" April 1981
"London" December 1981
"Norfolk" April 1982
"Bacchante" October 1982
"Porpoise" June 1982
"Dreadnought" March 1982

Her Majesty's Ships "Naiad", "Rhyll" and "Achilles", which were earlier planned to be paid off in 1982, are still in service. HMS "Juno" is being converted to a training ship. In addition, six major warships earlier sent for disposal—"Berwick", "Falmouth", "Londonderry", "Gurkha", "Tartar", and "Zulu"—have been restored to service. Future plans for the withdrawal of ships from the active fleet are under review.