HC Deb 30 January 1963 vol 670 cc930-1
34. Commander Courtney

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider other shipyards in addition to Messrs. Vickers, including the Royal Dockyards, when placing orders for the third and subsequent British nuclear submarines.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The third nuclear submarine was ordered from Messrs. Vickers in December last. Otherwise the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend is, "Yes."

Commander Courtney

Will my hon. Friend confirm that these new contracts will, in the first place, go out to competitive tender? Further, will he confirm that, in order to obviate the delays which have occurred so frequently in the past, one of the conditions of contract will be that the firm concerned shall undertake three-shift working?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I think that the main concern of my right hon. Friend and the nation as a whole is that these submarines should be in operational use at the earliest possible moment. It would be wrong in these conditions to go to competitive tender. In answer to the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question, I very much hope that the trade unions and the firms will negotiate for three-shift working, as it is obviously important that the vessels should be in service as soon as possible.

Mr. Willis

Are we to understand from those replies that the Government have at last decided what their submarine programme is? If so, will the hon. Gentleman make a statement about it at some time?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I do not think that I can be drawn on that. My right hon. Friend has answered once or twice already that there is a big two-day debate, and this question may well be raised during that.

Mr. Burden

Will my hon. Friend remember that Chatham Dockyard has a very considerable record in the building of submarines, and will he give an undertaking that it will be very seriously considered for any construction of nuclear submarines?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

It will certainly be considered.