§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the effect will be of the further cuts in defence expenditure announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in December on orders for ships for the Royal Navy which have been or were to be placed with British shipyards;
(2) what is the extent of orders for new ships for the Royal Navy now placed with British shipyards; and what further orders he expects to place during 1977.
§ Dr. GilbertAt the present time the Royal Navy has two ASW cruisers, three nuclear-powered submarines, six Type 42 destroyers, four Type 21 and three Type 22 frigates, and a mine countermeasures vessel under construction in United Kingdom shipyards, in addition to a number of smaller vessels. This programme will not be affected by the latest public expenditure cuts. We intend to announce the programme for 1977–78 in the forthcoming Defence White Paper as usual.