§ 20. Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tasks are performed by the West Indies guard ship and its accompanying Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel; and if he will make a statement. [8990]
§ Mr. SoamesThe West Indies guard ship and her accompanying Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker provide support to our dependent territories and other UK interests in the region. They carry out a broad range of tasks, including disaster relief, support for international operations, goodwill visits, and training for Caribbean forces. They also make a significant contribution to the international fight against drug trafficking.