§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will decide on a new offshore protection vessel for the Royal Navy.
§ Mr. SpeedWe have decided that, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of contractual negotiations with the shipbuilder, we should purchase the two 75m OPVs now being built by Hall Russess of Aberdeen, based on the result of a design contract let by the Ministry of Defence. It is expected that the cachet of a United Kingdom Government order would enhance the already considerable export potential of this design of vessel.