§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost and proposed number of Leander class frigates.
§ Mr. Mason:Twenty-four Leanders have been ordered up to now. We are unlikely to build many more, but the precise number will depend, among other things on how quickly we can introduce the new class of frigates referred to in the July White Paper. Recently completed Leanders have cost between £5 million and £6 million.