§ Sir Patrick Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the type 23 frigate design.
§ Mr. PattieA contract for detailed design work has now been placed with Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd. and progress is in line with the planned order date for the first of class which was announced by my right hon. Friend in the House on 1 July 1982.—[Vol. 26, c. 1064.] We have also commissioned an independent agency—Y-ARD 155W Ltd.—to carry out an objective examination of the design and have given Thornycroft Giles and Associates the opportunity to validate their claims for their S90 proposal.