§ 13. Mr. Duffyasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to attain the required ordering pattern of three type 23 frigates per year in order to preserve a proper age structure for a 50 surface ship fleet.
§ 16. Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his statement in July on the placement of orders for type 23 frigates 02, 03 and 04, he will now make a statement on the position in the ordering programme of frigates 05, 06 and 07.
§ Mr. YoungerFollowing the announcement I made earlier this year, there are now four of the new class of type 23 frigates on order. No decisions have yet been taken on the size or timing of further orders of follow-on type 23s, but these will, as always, be dependent upon the availability of resources.