Baroness VICKERSasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state why HMS "Cardiff", a new class of warship, will be delivered nearly four years later than planned, and what is likely, therefore, to be the extra cost to the taxpayer.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMThe major reason for the delays to HMS "Cardiff", a Type 42 destroyer, was Vickers' inability to recruit the necessary skilled labour. It is not our practice to disclose the costs of ships until they have entered service and contractual negotiations have been completed.
House adjourned at seventeen minutes past eight o'clock.