§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Humber and HMS Helmsdale were commissioned; what was their planned length of service; and why they are to be placed in reserve.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonHMS Humber was commissioned on 7 June 1985; HMS Helmsdale was commissioned on 1 March 1986. It is not our practice to disclose the planned length of service for vessels. Placing HMS Helmsdale and HMS Ribble, but not HMS Humber, in reserve enables reductions in running costs to be made while retaining the ships, which can be prepared for operations at short notice, as part of our MCM capability.