asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the present numbers and readiness of the Royal Navy's mine warfare forces; and whether he will make a statement.

Since May 1979 the Government have carried out a comprehensive modernisation of the Royal Navy's mine countermeasures forces. We have ordered eight more Hunt Class dual-role minehunters-sweepers, the entire new class of 12 River class minesweepers, and the first of the new class of single role minehunters. I am satisfied with the readiness of our MCMV forces and that the scale of our investment in them is the right balance within the overall naval programme.