HC Deb 09 January 2002 vol 377 cc836-7W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present deployment of Royal Navy ships. [25798]

Mr. Ingram

As at 7 January 2002, 21 Royal Navy ships were deployed from their home ports. HMS Illustrious, HMS Fearless, HMS Cornwall and HMS Southampton are deployed in the Gulf region in support of Operation Veritas. The Armilla Patrol Ship HMS Kent is also in the Gulf. The survey vessel HMS Scott is deployed in the Arabian Sea. HMS Montrose, HMS Leeds Castle and the Ice Patrol Vessel, HMS Endurance, are in the South Atlantic. HMS Exeter, allocated to NATO's Standing Naval Forces Atlantic, is currently in the mediterranean as is the survey vessel HMS Beagle. HMS Chatham left Devonport on 6 January to rejoin NATO Standing Force Mediterranean. Other ships away from their home ports are HMS Cumberland, HMS Portland, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Somerset, HMS Middleton, HMS Dulverton, HMS Lindisfarne, HMS Dumbarton Castle and HMS Alderney. These vessels are deployed in or around UK waters, either on patrol, trials or transit.

HMS Sutherland is alongside at Devonport at 14 days notice to move to the Caribbean.

For completeness, as at 7 January 2002, a total of 14 Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships were also deployed in support of the Royal Navy ships.