The Earl of Selkirkasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the limited number of orders for new frigates which it is proving possible to place, they have considered the reintroduction of thorough mid-life refits for frigates, such as those carried out on some Batch 3 Leanders at the beginning of this decade in order to prolong their effective life.
§ The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)No. The mid-life refits for frigates were replaced by a more flexible and cost-effective system of repair periods which not only achieves the necessary maintenance and updating of the warfare capability of these ships but also increases their availability.