Destroyers (Maintenance Cost)

HC Deb 20 March 1957 vol 567 c363

11. Mr. Emrys

Hughes asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the weekly cost of maintaining the latest type of destroyer in commission.

Mr. Soames

The average weekly cost of maintaining the latest types of destroyer in commission is £8,000.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Minister aware that the admiral in charge of the "Britannia" said that a destroyer costs more than the "Britannia"? Is not there something wrong with the arithmetic in the Admiralty?

Mr. Soames

I remember the figure which I quoted to the hon. Gentleman in a Written Answer last week, when I said that the costs of the "Britannia" were in the neighbourhood of £7,000 a week. This is £8,000 a week, which is more.