HC Deb 11 February 1986 vol 91 c443W
32. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to reduce the size of the surface fleet over the next five years.

Mr. Stanley

The ships from the RN and RFA that on present plans will be withdrawn during 1986 were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 5 February at columns183–4. The corresponding list for 1987 is:

  • HMS Walrus—Porpoise Class Submarine
  • HMS Sealion—Porpoise Class Submarine
  • HMS Engadine—Helicopter Training Ship
  • RFA Sir Caradoc—Interim Landing Ship Logistic

As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend, certain of the ships expected to be withdrawn from the active fleet in 1986 will continue to be available at standby status where they will remain declared to NATO. As for the period 1988 onwards it is not our general practice to give details of our disposal plans so far ahead; nor to give the planned acceptance dates of the new ships that will be joining the fleet over the next five years.

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