§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total requirement of the Royal Navy, broken down by ship type, in(a) 1997, and (b) 2002 and planned for (c) 2007, (d) 2012 and (e) 2017; and if he will make a statement. [52113]
§ Mr. IngramThe term "requirement of the Royal Navy" is not one that is generally recognised by the Ministry of Defence, however the number of Royal Navy ships and submarines in service in 1997 and 2002 as well as the currently planned numbers for 2007 are shown in the following table.
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Vessel type 1997 2002 2007 Submarines 15 16 13 Aircraft Carriers 3 3 3 Landing Platform Docks 2 10 2 Landing Platform Helicopter 0 1 1 Destroyers 12 11 11 Frigates 23 21 21 Minehunters 18 22 22 Offshore Patrol 8 7 5 Patrol Craft 15 16 16
Vessel type 1997 2002 2007 Ice Patrol Ship 1 1 1 Survey Ships 6 3 4 1 HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark the new replacement landing platform docks are planned to enter service in 2003 Beyond 2007 numbers are dependent upon continuing analysis and evaluation and upon decisions about how particular capability requirements might in future most cost-effectively be met.