§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to proceed with the purchase of a new main battle tank in the time scale originally envisaged and in the same number.
Mr. Alan ClarkeAs I told the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland) on 14 December,Official Report, columns 822–23, it is our intention to reach a decision on a tank to replace Chieftain by the end of 1990. The precise number of tanks to be ordered has yet to be be decided.