§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which vessels will continue with the Naval Task Group 03 deployment to the Far East. [112083]
§ Mr. IngramI refer the hon. Member to the written statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 11 April 2003,Official Report, columns 38–39WS, concerning the redeployment of HMS Marlborough and HMS Liverpool, together with RFA Grey Rover, from operations in the Gulf to the Far East. These ships constitute a reduced Naval Task Group (NTG) 03. Both HMS Marlborough and HMS Liverpool were part of the original NTG 03 deployment before being called upon, with the rest of the Task Group, for contingent operations in support of Operation TELIC.