§ Mr. LoydenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for reductions in personnel and vessels in the Royal Navy.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonOur plans to move to a smaller and better equipped Navy remain as set out in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991. We will move to these lower force levels while introducing newer and more capable vessels. Navy manpower will reduce from the present total requirement of 63,000 to around 55,000 by the mid-1990s.