§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence which of the vessels shown in the defence review as approved for disposal during 1974–75 are still in service; and when HMS "Grampus" is to be taken out of commission.
§ Mr. Judd:From the vessels listed only HMS "Grampus" is still in service and she is due to pay off at the end of next month.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage the nine new destroyers/frigates to be cut from the financial programme represent of the total programme of such vessels over the defence review period; and what is his estimate of the resulting savings to be made in construction costs;
(2) what is his estimate of the savings to be made by deleting from the construction programme a fleet maintenance ship, three large fleet tankers and one afloat support ship;
(3) what is his estimate of the saving to be effected by abandoning the plans to build two amphibious ships.
§ Mr. Judd:It is not the normal practice to give details of planned orders beyond the next financial year or the estimated cost of new construction. But the saving in new construction costs as a result of these particular measures 227W represents about a quarter of the previously planned expenditure on new construction in the defence review period.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Fleet auxiliaries it is proposed to build during the period covered by the defence review. and of what types.
§ Mr. Judd:As announced in the Defence White Paper, two fleet replenishment ships are under construction. It is not normal practice to give details of our future shipbuilding plans beyond the next financial year.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence when it is proposed to withdraw from service the cruisers HMS "Blake" and HMS "Tiger".
§ Mr. Judd:The plan is that HM ships "Blake" and "Tiger" will continue in service for a number of years yet.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the defence review provides for the construction of a new salvage ship to replace HMS "Reclaim"; and, if so, when.
§ Mr. Judd:The question of a replacement for the deep diving ship HMS "Reclaim" is still under consideration.