§ Lord Glanuskasked Her Majestys' Government:
Whether they will say when they intend to invite tenders for further Type 23 frigates.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Lord Trefgarne)Tenders will be sought in the late summer for the third and fourth Type 23 frigates. All United Kingdom shipyards capable of constructing frigates will be invited to bid.
As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence said in the other place on 28th January, Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Limited will at the same time also be invited to tender for the second Type 23 frigate.