§ Mr. OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the planned deployments overseas by naval vessels which have been cancelled this year, indicating the reasons for cancellation. [101614]
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§ Mr. SpellarThree deployments away from the UK/Northern European theatre have been cancelled this year. These were the deployment of an Amphibious Task Group to the West Indies in May and June for operational reasons related to Kosovo; a deployment by an Aircraft Carrier Group to the USA and Caribbean from February to April for operational reasons relating to the Gulf; and a submarine deployment to the Gulf in March for operational reasons relating to Kosovo. I gave details on 8 December 1999,Official Report, column 560W of the naval vessels which had been withdrawn this year from exercises in the UK/Northern European theatre.