Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) to what extent HMS Glasgow will be able to fulfil the specialist functions of HMS Nottingham as developed in her 1999–2000 refit;

(2) when HMS Glasgow was placed in extended readiness; and when she is expected to be fully operational;

(3) what assessment he has made of the (a) air defence and (b) anti-terrorist maritime capabilities of HMS Glasgow in comparison with those of HMS Nottingham.

Mr Adam Ingram (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; East Kilbride, Labour)

While the Type 42 Destroyer, HMS Glasgow, will help ease the short term programming gap in the Fleet created by the unavailability of HMS Nottingham, she is not a direct replacement for that ship. Although both ships are designed to provide area air defence, either independently or as an integral component of larger joint or coalition maritime Task Groups, Glasgow does not have the enhanced air defence capability to take over HMS Nottingham's programme. However, there is no difference between the "anti-terrorism" capabilities provided by the two ships.

HMS Glasgow was placed at extended readiness from May 2002 (Hansard 2 May 2002, column 965W). Further to the answer given to the hon. Member on 27 November 2002 (Hansard, column 334W), Glasgow's return to service is delayed by the requirement to provide personnel to Operation Fresco.