Frigates (Hansard, 13 March 2003)

§ Mr. Jenkin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether warships will be re-allocated to Atlantic Patrol (North) duties following the deployment of HMS Iron Duke in support of operations in Sierra Leone. [102573]

§ Mr. Ingram
Outside the hurricane season, May to November, the unit assigned to APT (N) is routinely at 14 days notice to be in the Caribbean theatre. HMS Iron Duke demonstrated, during her transit from the Caribbean to Sierra Leone, that she is well within that 14-day notice period. It is not planned to supplement the APT (N) unit at the present moment.

§ Mr. Jenkin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational status is of HMS Montrose. [102552]

§ Mr. Ingram
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 March 2003,Official Report, column 1040W to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

§ Mr. Jenkin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the complement is of HMS Newcastle; and whether she is fully crewed. [102551]

§ Mr. Ingram
The complement of HMS Newcastle is 249. 16 posts are gapped, but she is currently carrying 22 personnel under training. Her current strength is therefore 255.