Delight at news of new frigates.
Published Sep 08, 2017
UKIP
Defence Spokesman, Bill Etheridge, told of his delight at the news the UK is to
build at least five Type 31 frigates
The
Type 31 Frigate is reported to be cheaper than the new Type 26, with a fixed
price of £250m to encourage exports. The ships themselves are to be built in
segments then assembled in a similar manner to the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft
carrier.
Mr
Etheridge, MEP for the West Midlands, said, "Exports of the Anti-submarine Type
26 frigate have been affected by the cost.
“As
we head towards Brexit, this new ship would be a huge boost to our shipbuilding
industry and boost the numbers of a shrinking Royal Navy.
“I
call on the government to use the savings made by opting for the Type 31 to
invest once more into ship numbers particularly in the field of fisheries
protection and make the Royal Navy once more the pride of the
seas.”