Written question asked by Richard Ottaway (Conservative) on Thursday, 9 December 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 December 1999. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Thursday, 16 December 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 8th December, Official Report, column 560W, concerning the withdrawal of naval vessels from planned exercises, if he will list (a) the exercises the vessels were withdrawn from and (b) the reasons for withdrawal.

Answer: Mr. Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer concerning the withdrawal of naval vessels from planned exercises, if he will list and (b) the reasons for withdrawal. [102714] Mr. Spellar: The RN withdrew ships from the following exercises for the reasons stated: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Ship Exercise HMS Invincible JFTEX HMS Northumberland Aurora 99 (North) HMS Ledbury Usbaltops HMS Gloucester Argonaut 99 HMS Newcastle Argonaut 99 HMS Cattistock Open Spirit HMS Montrose Northern Lights HMS Monmouth Northern Lights HMS Fearless Northern Lights HMS Ocean Northern Lights HMS Edinburgh Northern Lights HMS Sandown Sandy Coast HMS Edinburgh Falcon Nut HMS Westminster Flotex ________________________________________________________________________________________ of 8 December 1999, Official Report, column 560W, (a) the exercises the vessels were withdrawn from _________. Reason for withdrawal Redeployment to Gulf Redeployment as Atlantic Patrol Task Change to maintenance dates Operational tasking Operational tasking National tasking Operational tasking Revised training schedules Deployed to Mediterranean Deployed to Mediterranean Deployed to Mediterranean To accommodate Gulf Deployment Operational tasking In Year Budget Management Measure _________.

Secondary information