HC Deb 20 July 1998 vol 316 c425W
17. Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the anti-submarine warfare capability of the Royal Navy. [49593]

Dr. Reid

The Royal Navy continues to have a world-class anti-submarine warfare capability. However, the nature and scale of the submarine threat has changed since the end of the Cold War, towards a wide range of operations in coastal areas. We have decided therefore as part of the Strategic Defence Review to focus more on this threat and reduce the emphasis on open ocean operations.