§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the(a) assault ships, (b) helicopter landing ships and (c) frigates that have been ordered in each of the last five years, for 1992–93 and estimated for 1993–94; if he will give the type and cost of the order in each case; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenThe following type 23 frigates have been ordered during the last five years:
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Date HMS Iron Duke 11 July 1988 HMS Monmouth 11 July 1988 HMS Montrose 11 July 1988 HMS Westminster 22 December 1989 HMS Northumberland 22 December 1989 HMS Richmond 22 December 1989 HMS Somerset 23 January 1992 HMS Grafton 23 January 1992 HMS Sutherland 23 January 1992 No assault ships or helicopter landing ships were ordered during this period. We invited tenders for a helicopter carrier earlier this year and we plan to invite tenders in the spring of next year for the first of two assault ships.
It is not our policy to make the costs of orders public as they are commercially confidential. All these orders were placed as a result of competition.