§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what Royal Naval and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels remain on deployment in the Gulf; and what the scheduled dates are for the return of each; [111337]
(2) if he will list the Royal Naval and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels which have completed their deployments as part of the second Gulf war task force, together with the dates of deployment for each vessel. [111336]
§ Mr. IngramOn the 6 May 2003 the following ships remain deployed on Operations in the Gulf region: Frigates HMS Chatham and HMS Richmond supported by the RFA tanker Brambleleaf on routine peacetime level deployments; Mine counter measures vessels HMS Grimsby, HMS Ledbury, HMS Ramsey and HMS Shoreham remain in theatre to conduct Mine Clearance Operations, Defence diplomacy and to exercise with Gulf Co-operation Council nations.
By 6 May 2003, only the submarine HMS Turbulent will have completed its deployment in the recent Gulf action, as marked by its return to the United Kingdom on 16 Apr 2003.
All other units which took part in the conflict, are currently on passage to the UK or are continuing with their previously scheduled deployments elsewhere.
I am withholding information on specific operational programming dates for RN and RFA units under Exemption la (National security) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.