Aircraft Carriers (Hansard, 12 February 2004)

§ Dr. Julian Lewis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which aircraft carriers he plans to have available for service in 2014. [154668]

§ Mr. Ingram
On current plans, the first of the larger and more capable CVF class of aircraft carriers will be in service in 2014.

§ Dr. Julian Lewis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains his policy that the Invincible Class carriers shall remain in service until replaced by the new aircraft carriers. [154669]

§ Mr. Ingram
The Royal Navy Invincible Class carriers (CVS) will be replaced as part of a phased replacement programme by the larger and more capable carriers (CVF) in the first half of the next decade.

§ Dr. Julian Lewis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the decommissioning date of HMS Ark Royal has been brought forward to 2013. [154667]

§ Mr. Ingram
The decommissioning date for HMS Ark Royal has not been brought forward. On current plans it remains towards the end of 2013.