HL Deb 11 October 1999 vol 605 c79WA
The Earl of Carlisle

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they plan to fill the gap created by their withdrawal from the second project to replace the Type 42 destroyer. [HL3934]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Her Majesty's Government did not withdraw from the HORIZON Programme. The UK, France and Italy agreed in April 1999 to terminate the programme after its Project Definition and Initial Design Phase scheduled to complete in October 1999. The requirement to replace the RN's Type 42 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers will now be met by the national Type 45 Destroyer Programme, with the first ship planned to enter service in 2007.

This programme will incorporate where possible the work completed on HORIZON and will also encompass the continuing collaboration with France and Italy on the Principal Anti-Air Warfare Missile System (PAAMS) which will be fitted to the Type 45. The contract for PAAMS Full Scale Engineering Development and Initial Production was placed by France on behalf of the three nations on 11 August 1999.

Apart from HMS "Birmingham", which is due to decommission later this year, Type 42 withdrawal from service will correspond with the introduction of the Type 45.