§ 17. Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to be able to make a statement about the future of HMS "Invincible".
§ Mr. NottAs my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces said to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip—Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 29 October 1981 we announced our intention in Cmnd. 8288 to keep in service in the long term only two of the three ships of this class. We are discussing with the Australian Government their possible acquisition of one of these ships but no decision has yet been taken.