§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Defence which yards will be invited to tender for the third type 23 which he announced on 28 January, Official Report, column 21.
§ Mr. LeeI have at present nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 28 January, at column 21.
§ Mr. Chopeasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department started to negotiate a tender for a new type 23 frigate with Swan Hunter.
§ Mr. LeeNo negotiations have yet taken place. As my right hon. Friend said on 28 January, at column 21, Swan 511W Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd. will be invited to tender for the type 23–O2 frigate as soon as this can sensibly be done and the order will be placed subject to satisfactory agreement on price and other contract terms.
§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Defence for which reasons he has decided to allocate the second order for the type 23 frigate to Swan Hunter without offering the order to open tender.
§ Mr. LeeI have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 28 January, at column 21.