HC Deb 03 March 1987 vol 111 cc573-4W
Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on the basis of the Government's current public expenditure programme as defined in Cm. 56, how many single role minehunters will be in service, fully manned and fully operational, for each of the next five financial years; and what are the consequences of this commitment upon the single role minehunter ordering programme;

(2) on the basis of the Government's current public expenditure programme as defined in Cm. 56, how many frigates will be in service, fully manned and fully operational, for each of the next five financial years; and what are the consequences of this commitment upon the frigate ordering programme.

Mr. Stanley

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Speed) on 27 February at columns458–59.

On the frigate ordering programme, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said on 9 December, at columns 168–69, we placed three orders for frigates last year. It remains our intention to maintain a force level of about 50 frigates and destroyers, but the number of frigates to be ordered in any one year will continue to depend upon the life of the frigates, the refit cycle and the resources available.

Decisions on the size and timing of the next orders for single role minehunters will be made following consideration of the tenders for up to four vessels which were invited earlier this year.