HL Deb 22 March 1984 vol 449 cc1467-8WA
The Earl of Kimberley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the effects of the time taken by the Government to choose a new surface-to-surface guided weapon for the Royal Navy on the Type 22 Batch III Warship Building Programme.

Lord Trefgarne

Two Batch III Type 22 Frigates—Types 22–11 and 12—are under construction and a further two—13 and 14—are to be ordered. The timescale for a decision on the choice of SSGW may have an effect on the build programmes for Types 22–11 and 12 and possibly 13 and 14, but we cannot assess this precisely until the choice is made. We shall of course endeavour to keep any effect on the programmes to an absolute minimum.