HL Deb 20 December 1976 vol 378 cc1174-5WA
Lord STRATHCONA and MOUNT ROYAL

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the statement by the Lord Winterbottom in a letter to him dated 29th March 1976 that the costs of ships ordered by the Government are normally made public when the ship is accepted into service, they are now in a position to state:

  1. (a) the cost of HMS "Kingfisher" and other vessels of the "Bird" class;
  2. (b) the cost of the "Jersey", which has now entered into service; and
  3. (c) what patrol vessels they intend to order in the immediate future for fishery protection or other duties

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

Contractual negotiations for HMS "Kingfisher", and other vessels of that class, and for HMS "Jersey" are still proceeding, and no final figure is therefore available for their costs. Studies of various options for future patrol vessels are under way, but it is too early to say what the outcome will be.