HC Deb 18 December 1985 vol 89 c215W
Mr. Wood

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to deploy a Royal Navy task group beyond the NATO area.

Mr. Stanley

I am glad to say that we plan to deploy a Royal Navy task group to the north Pacific, far east, Australasian and Indian ocean areas next April. The group, which will be led by HMS Illustrious, will spend some eight months on deployment before returning home to the United Kingdom next December.