HC Deb 13 May 2002 vol 385 cc427-8W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy is. [54641]

Mr. Ingram

The oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy is HMS Victory which was commissioned in 1778. Although HMS Victory is the oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy, she is no longer floating but is set in a dry dock in Portsmouth naval base. The oldest commissioned ship which is still afloat is HMS Fearless which was brought into service in November 1965 and is due to be de-commissioned on 31 October 2002.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the complement is of(a) HMS Cardiff, (b) HMS Edinburgh, (c) HMS York, (d) HMS Nottingham, (e) HMS Glasgow, (f) HMS Exeter, (g) HMS Southampton and (h) HMS Newcastle.[54884]

Mr. Ingram

The respective complements are set out in the table:

Ship Complement
Cardiff 252
Edinburgh 244
York 255
Nottingham 242
Glasgow 251
Exeter 241
Southampton 243
Newcastle 249

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to put into reserve HMS Cornwall, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Chatham and HMS Cumberland in Portsmouth naval base. [55433]

Mr. Ingram

There are no current plans to put any of the Type 22 (Batch 3) frigates into reserve.