BAE Systems: Type 26 Frigate

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Trefgarne

Thursday 24th March 2022 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

Maybe there should be a leak inquiry—but perhaps I should not go there. On the noble Baroness’s question, of course, she makes a regular point about climate change. However, I can reassure her, particularly on the national shipbuilding programme—I think she was present for the Statement from my noble friend Lady Goldie—that there is much going on. She will have read that big document about ensuring that our future warships in our shipbuilding strategy will be of a clean nature.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me how many destroyers and frigates are presently available to the Royal Navy?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

I start by saying that we have an improving picture in fleet availability, which is the result of targeted interventions to minimise support requirements, improve maintenance and generate ships faster. Perhaps to reassure my noble friend, in May 2021 there were 935 ship days at sea, the most since July 2014. May I also say, although I cannot of course give too much out, that, for example, there are at least 10 fully operational ships at sea now? That includes “HMS “Diamond” in the east Mediterranean, HMS “Northumberland”, from that TV series, which noble Lords may have watched, which is taking part in normal deployment, and many more.

Homelessness

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Trefgarne

Thursday 23rd January 2020 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I hope I have set out to the House the actions that we are taking. There are a variety of reasons why people sleep rough. We know what they are and we need to address them one by one; there is no one simple solution to this. For example, some people become homeless as a result of friends or family no longer being willing or able to accommodate them. There are domestic rows and the termination of assured short-term tenancies. There are lots of reasons, but the main point is that action is being taken to address all these complex problems.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

My Lords, can my noble friend comment on the number of ex-service personnel who now find themselves homeless, whose numbers are thought to be particularly troubling?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I do not have the figures for ex-service personnel but I know that there are some. I will write to my noble friend with the figures, if we have them.