To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 May, Official Report, column 458, to the hon. Member for Colchester, South and Maldon (Mr. Whittingdale) what progress he is making in issuing invitations to tender for a further batch of Sandown class mine hunters before the House rises for the summer recess.

We expect to make an announcement on the next batch of single role minehunters shortly, but I regret this will not be before the House rises.