§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now ready to issue further invitations to tender for equipment programmes following his statement on 14 July.
§ Mr. FreemanI am pleased to confirm the plans on three major equipment programmes. For the Royal Navy, we are now ready to issue an invitation to tender for the build of a further batch of up to three type 23 frigates. These vessels will form a most valuable contribution to the maintenance of a modern, capable force of 35 destroyers and frigates.
I am also glad to confirm the plans on two weapons programmes of major importance to the RAF. An ITT will be issued for a conventionally-armed stand-off missile to enhance the RAF's capability for precision attack against high-value fixed targets, the importance of which was demonstrated in the Gulf conflict. In addition, we shall at the same time be issuing an ITT for an advanced air-launched anti-armour weapon. This will be a vital element of the offensive support capability to be provided by the Harrier GR7, Tornado and Eurofighter 2000 in the next decade.