§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many minesweepers are in service with the Royal Navy; how many other vessels can be called on for minesweeping duties in the event of an emergency; and from what sources.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThere are currently 30 mine countermeasure vessels in service with the Royal Navy, including nine minesweepers. We do not envisage circumstances in which the Royal Navy could not meet the United Kingdom's requirements for minesweeping from within its own resources.
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