HC Deb 16 May 1989 vol 153 cc142-3W
Mr. Allen McKay

To ask the Secretary of Stale for Defence how many ships of the present surface fleet are having their lives extended.

Mr. Sainsbury

A number of surface ships are currently undergoing routine maintenance and refit, but none is having work done on it designed to extend its service life. Consideration is being given to the feasibility of extending the lives of the assault ships HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid in parallel with other options for replacing the capability they represent.