CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

DEFENCE (FRONT BENCH) – WARSHIP NUMBERS - 03 March 2008

DEFENCE (FRONT BENCH) – WARSHIP NUMBERS - 03 March 2008

Dr Julian Lewis: In order for the Government to fulfil their 2004 commitment for a fleet with 25 frigates and destroyers and eight submarines, they need to order eight Type 45 destroyers and eight Astute class submarines. Do they intend to do so?

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have ordered six Type 45 destroyers. We have made no commitment yet to hulls seven and eight, and we are not ready to make any announcement on that. If the hon. Gentleman had followed what is said in Hansard rather than what he hoped was said, he would know that back in December I told him that the plan was eventually for there to be seven Astute class submarines, not eight.]