HC Deb 09 June 2003 vol 406 c651W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 16 May 2003,Official Report, column 448W, on the Falkland Islands, when the last APT(S) came off station. [117658]

Mr. Ingram

The last Atlantic Patrol Task (South) ship, HMS Westminster, departed the Falkland Islands Area of Responsibility (FIAOR) on 26 October 2002 and finally left the Atlantic theatre of operations on 28 November 2002. For the majority of the gapped period, in addition to the Falkland Islands Patrol Vessel HMS Leeds Castle, the RN continued to contribute to the significant UK presence in the South Atlantic with the APT(S) tanker RFA Grey Rover, prior to her re-deployment on 31 January 2003 for Operation Telic duties, and the Ice Patrol Ship HMS Endurance, before she left the FIAOR on 18 March 2003.