HC Deb 23 October 2000 vol 355 cc29-30W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what former Royal Navy ships have been sold in the last four years; to whom; what was received for each sale; and if he will make a statement. [134138]

Dr. Moonie

For reasons of commercial sensitivity details of individual sales of former Royal Navy vessels cannot be given. However, during the last four financial years contracts signed from Government to Government and commercial sales of surplus vessels are as follows:

£ million
Financial year Amount
1996–97 12.9
1997–98 4.2
1998–99 0.9
1999–2000 0.2

The vessels sold on a Government to Government basis were:

Type Name Country
River Class Minesweepers HMS Itchen Brazil
HMS Spey Brazil
HMS Arun Brazil
HMS Blackwater Brazil
Peacock Class
Hong Kong Patrol Craft HMS Peacock Philippines
HMS Plover Philippines
HMS Starling Philippines

Additionally, two Hunt Class Mine Counter Measures vessels (HMS Bicester and HMS Berkeley) have been sold to the Hellenic Navy, Greece, (via Vosper Thorneycroft) during this financial year (2000–01). HMS Bicester was transferred 31 July 2000, and HMS Berkeley will be transferred over on 28 February 20001. These vessels are not included in the figures given.

Accidents involving RAF aircraft, excluding those list in conflict, where the AAIB assisted in the subsequent investigation
Date Aircraft Location
30 April 1990 Phantom FGR2 XV402 RAF Valley
30 April 1990 Shackleton AEW2 WR965 Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides
30 April 1990 Tornado GR1 ZA 454 22nm NE Goose Bay, Canada
9 May 1990 Hawk T1 XX347 RAF Valley
27 June 1990 Canberra E15 WH972 RAF Kinloss
14 August 1990 2 x Tornado GR1 ZA545 and ZA564 N Sea, l0nm NE Spurn Head
16 August 1990 Tornado GR1 ZA561 N Sea, l0nm NE Spurn Head
12 September 1990 Jaguar GR1A XZ387 Solway Firth
17 October 1990 Harrier GR5 ZD355 32nm NW Karup, Denmark
13 November 1990 Jaguar GR1A XX754 Saudi Arabia
7 December 1990 Wessex HC2 XR519 RAF Shawbury
13 January 1991 Tornado GR1 ZD718 Oman, Gulf of Arabia
18 March 1991 Canberra T4 WJ877 RAF Wyton
1 May 1991 Gazelle HT2 XZ940 RAF Tern Hill
10 May 1991 Tornado GR1 ZA367 20nm N Bremen, Germany

To list the number of vessels sold on a commercial basis could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, some of the more significant sales were:

Type Name Destination
Royal Yacht HMY Britannia Britannia Trust
Leander Class Frigate HMS Jupitor Samsung HK Ltd.
Leander Class Frigate HMS Hermione Samsung HK Ltd.
County Class Destroyer HMS Kent Samsung HK Ltd.
Hecla Class Survey Ship HMS Hecla Simon Robinson
Ton Class Mine Hunter HMS Wilton IMA Agents
Type 42 Destroyer HMS Birmingham Resyna SA

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which former Royal Navy submarines have been sold to Canada in the last three years; what plans he has for submarine sales in the next three years and at what price; and if he will make a statement. [134137]

Dr. Moonie

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend Lord Robertson, the then Secretary of State for Defence, gave on 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 52, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth, (Mr. Healey). Canada has acquired the four ex-Royal Navy Upholder class submarines. The acquisition takes the form of an eight year lease with an option of outright purchase.

The first of the submarines was handed over to Canada on 6 October 2000 and the three remaining submarines will follow over the next 18 months.

The arrangement, which includes the submarines, training and initial spares, is worth some 610 million Canadian dollars.

No other submarine sales or transfers to Canada have taken place over the last three years or are planned over the next three years.