Falkland Islands Defence Review Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Falkland Islands Defence Review

Lord Burnett Excerpts
Tuesday 24th March 2015

(9 years, 7 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Burnett Portrait Lord Burnett (LD)
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As this is probably my noble friend’s last defence Statement as a Minister in this Parliament, I congratulate him on his exemplary service as a Defence Minister over the past five years. I understand that HMS “Clyde” is an off-shore patrol vessel. Does my noble friend agree that we should strengthen the permanent Royal Navy presence in and around the Falkland Islands?

Lord Astor of Hever Portrait Lord Astor of Hever
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My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his very kind, totally undeserved, words. The Falklands Islands patrol vessel capability will be retained when HMS “Clyde” leaves service in 2017. I assure my noble friend that we always have either a Type 45 destroyer or a Type 23 frigate available to reinforce the Falklands Islands.