§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which warships are currently deployed in the South Atlantic; and what plans he has to replace them at the end of their tour of duty. [109865]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Type 23 Frigate HMS Somerset is currently returning from the South Atlantic via the West African coast. Her replacement as the Falkland Islands Guardship is the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Southampton, which will arrive in Falkland Islands waters shortly.
The ice patrol ship HMS Endurance and the Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Dumbarton Castle are currently deployed in the South Atlantic. HMS Endurance will return to the UK at the end of the austral summer, as is normal practice, and will redeploy to the South Atlantic 374W in austral summer 2000–01. HMS Dumbarton Castle is scheduled to remain in the South Atlantic until 2001 when she will be relieved by her sister ship HMS Leeds Castle.