§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current condition of HMS Kent, HMS Hermione and HMS Jupiter and the prospects for their sale; and if he will make a statement. [19304]
§ Mr. FreemanHMS Kent, HMS Jupiter and HMS Hermione are at present lying decommissioned in Portsmouth naval base, preparatory to their future offer for sale to the commercial scrap market. Despite strenuous efforts by the Disposal Sales Agency, none of these ships has attracted an overseas buyer for further operational use. There does, however, appear to be a flourishing commercial market for scrap metal recovery.