HC Deb 16 May 1977 vol 932 c74W
Mr. Robert Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the ships currently under construction on order from the Ministry of Defence, the dates their keels were laid, the completion date on the original contract, and the date when completion is now expected for each.

21 Dr. Gilbert

Warships of the size of mine countermeasures vessels and above under construction for the Royal Navy and the dates their keels were laid are as follows:

SHIP AND DATE KEEL LAID

Submarines

HMS "Sceptre: February 1974

HMS "Spartan": April 1976

SSN-12 (not yet named):—

Cruisers

HMS "Invincible": July 1973

HMS "Illustrious": October 1976

Type

HMS "Cardiff": November 1972

HMS "Coventry": January 1973

HMS "Newcastle": February 1973

HMS "Glasgow": April 1974.

HMS "Exeter": July 1976

HMS "Southampton": October 1976

42-09 (not yet named):—

Type

HMS "Broadsword": February 1975

HMS "Battleaxe": February 1976

HMS "Brilliant": March 1977.

Type

HMS "Active": July 1971

HMS "Ardent": February 1974

HMS " Avenger ": October 1974

In the case of the mine countermeasures vessels, which are made of glass reinforced plastic, the equivalent date when the hull was laid up, is:

Mine Countermeasures Vessels and Date hull laid up

HMS "Brecon": October 1975

MCMV-02:—

It is not Ministry of Defence practice to give expected completion dates for ships under construction.