asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the second of the new class of mine counter-measures vessels which was stated in last year's Defence White Paper as to be ordered during the year had not been ordered before the publication of the current year's White Paper.

At the time the 1976 Defence White Paper was published, we expected to order the second of the Hunt class of mine countermeasures vessels well within the current financial year. There have unfortunately been delays in negotiating the contract for the vessel; negotiations are in the final stages and we hope to place an order at an early date.