§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to announce decommissioning of HMS Valiant, HMS Courageous, HMS Swiftsure and HMS Sovereign.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonMy right hon. Friend announced on 25 July at column 471 that we intend to maintain a submarine fleet of about 16 boats in the future, of which around three-quarters would be nuclear powered. Following the decisions to decommission Warspite, Churchill and Conqueror, we are considering the further steps needed to achieve the revised force level. Decisions will be announced as they are taken.