§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by(a) date, (b) number of vessels, (c) number of personnel, (d) nationality of military force 736W and (e) class of ordnance to be deployed including warhead, each of the naval exercises he has approved to be undertaken in the waters off Cape Wrath, Sutherland over the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [110823]
§ Mr. SpellarA total of six ships (one UK frigate, one Dutch frigate, one Spanish frigate, two US Cruisers and one US Destroyer) are scheduled to use the range at Cape Wrath for Naval Gunfire Support over the next three months. The use of the range is, however, confined to the period between 28 February and 10 March. The range is booked for a period of 10 days to allow flexibility for weather and other factors. Each ship will occupy the range on an individual basis for a period of less than one day. The firing of ordnance at Cape Wrath is limited to guns of up to six inches in calibre. The exact number of personnel involved is not known but the vessels involved will have crews of between 175 and 350 personnel. This level of usage is broadly consistent with previous training sessions for RN and NATO ships conducted over recent years at Cape Wrath.