§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the defence plans and Estimates for 1976–77 provide for a reduction in the Royal Navy's hydrographic survey fleet; and, if so, by how many ships and by what percentage.
§ Mr. JuddNo; but following the report of the Hydrographic Study Group the future of hydrography is under active review; as part of this review arrangements for funding part of the existing hydrographic fleet from outside the Defence budget are under consideration.