HC Deb 16 November 1977 vol 939 cc277-9W
Mr. Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on reported operational defects in the Island class ships and the remedial action that is necessary.

Mr. Duffy

There have been few operational defects in the Island class vessels that have resulted in patrol time being lost. All three Islands currently in service, HMS "Jersey", "Orkney" and "Shetland", have experienced contamination in their fuel. Simple modifications to their fuel system have now been made and have restored the ships' full opera-

last three years the number of entrants for the Welsh Joint Education Committee GCE O-level in the 12 most popular subjects and the number and percentages who obtained grades A, B and C passes in each of these subjects.

Mr. Barry Jones

Information relating to the years 1974 to 1976, the last year the available, is set out below:

Mr. Barry Jones

The table below shows the numbers and percentage of school leavers in Wales obtaining O-level passes at grade C and above or CSE equivalent in the years 1973–74 to 197576; information for 1976–77 is not yet available. This information is based on a sample survey and is not further subdivided because this would lead to an unacceptably high level of sampling error.

tional capability. HMS "jersey" has recently had her bilge keel changed to meet the latest specification, to which the subsequent ships of the class have been built; and HMS "Shetland" several pipe fracture on her port engine lubricating system, this problem has now been resolved by modifying her pipe support arrangement.

Mr. Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the planned date for the commissioning of HMS "Invincible".

Mr. Daffy

It is not the normal practice to publish advance information, except for the current year, about the planned acceptance of new ships.

Mr. Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of warships in service on the following dates, namely, 15th October 1964, 31st March 1966, 18th June 1970, 28th February 1974, 11th October 1974, and 31st October 1977.

Mr. Duffy

It has not been possible to provide the information requested for the precise dates specified, but the following figures indicate the numbers of warships of mine countermeasure vessel size and above which were operational on the dates shown. Ships in reserve, on standby or undergoing long refit, auxiliaries, landing ships and accommodation ships have been excluded:

20th October 1964 200
29thMarch 1966 198
16thJune1970 156
5th March 1974 158
22nd October 1974 156
1st November 1977 132

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