§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been regarded as the normal service life for a frigate; and after how many years they will normally be given a major refit.
§ Mr. BlakerThere is no general rule, but planned service lives for the majority of frigates have ranged broadly between 18 and 24 years depending on their design. Major refits have usually taken place after about nine to 12 years of life. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to our intention, expressed in Cmnd. 8288, to break away from the practice of costly mid-life modernisation.