All 1 Debates between Earl Howe and Earl of Cork and Orrery

Royal Navy: Warships

Debate between Earl Howe and Earl of Cork and Orrery
Thursday 1st February 2018

(6 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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No, my Lords. The Ministry of Defence will continue to take decisions in parallel with the programme that is now in train. Where significant decisions need to be taken, their impact on the modernising defence programme and their relationship with it will of course be considered.

Earl of Cork and Orrery Portrait The Earl of Cork and Orrery (CB)
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My Lords, the Navy is in the process of taking delivery of five Batch 2 offshore patrol vessels. These will displace four earlier vessels, one of which, HMS “Severn”, has already been decommissioned. She is only 15 years old. Will the Minister undertake to examine future uses for these versatile vessels, which might include Border Force or Royal Naval Reserve duties to augment our coastal and fisheries protection?

Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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I am grateful to the noble Earl for those suggestions, which I am sure will be noted by the department. But the modernising defence programme that is now in train is the body of work that will settle the specifics of what we require to meet our defence needs. As I have said, its aim is to ensure that we have defence that is sustainable, affordable and configured to address all the threats that we face.