HMS Sirius (Hansard, 25 February 1993)

§ Mr. Jamieson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why HMS Sirius has been retired from the fleet ahead of schedule.

§ Mr. Aitken
As announced by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Defence on 25 July 1990, at column469, we are moving towards a future destroyer/ frigate force of around 40 ships. In order to do this we are paying off the older, more manpower intensive vessels such as the Leander class frigates, and introducing modern, more capable vessels such as the type 23 frigates. As part of this process HMS Sirius, at 27 the oldest of the remaining Leander class frigates, was recently retired from service.

§ Mr. Jamieson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of refitting HMS Sirius at Devonport dockyard in 1991.

§ Mr. Aitken
About £25 million at current prices.

§ Mr. Jamieson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence between which dates the refit of HMS Sirius was carried out at Devonport dockyard.

§ Mr. Aitken
Between October 1989 and May 1991.