asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will consider offering any Royal Navy frigates which he regards as surplus to the Royal Navy's needs to Portugal having regard to the expressed need by this North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally to acquire frigates for its navy.

The Portuguese Government have decided that its navy's requirement for frigates can be best met by the acquisition of new vessels. The means by which Portugal can acquire these with the assistance of her allies are the subject of continuing discussion within NATO.