§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of each of the four River class of fleet minesweepers scheduled to be in service by early 1985; and when the eight additional vessels on order are expected to be ready for service operations.
§ Mr. LeeThe estimated cost of each of the four fleet minesweepers at 1983–84 price levels is £4 million.
The first of the eight additional vessels on order is expected to enter service in early 1985, with the remaining vessels entering service approximately at the rate of one every two months completing by the middle of 1986.