§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Fleet Auxiliary (a) tankers and (b) store ships which took part in the Falklands task force (i) have now been disposed of or (ii) are to be disposed of in the next few years; which ships are to replace them; and what is to be the percentage reduction in the number of store ships as a result of the disposals.
§ Mr. BlakerThe only RFA to have been disposed of is the tanker Tidepool, whose sale was deferred during the operation. The stores ship Stromness will be sold, and the ageing tankers Pearleaf and Plumleaf returned to their owners at the expiry of their charters. The disposal of Stromness, which is surplus to requirements, will reduce the number of store ships from five to four, that is by 20 per cent. Consideration is being given to the acquisition of further support tankers.