§ 19. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the third and fourth Polaris submarines are due to be commissioned.
§ Mr. MasonThe third Polaris submarine, H.M.S. "Repulse", is due to be commissioned in the autumn of 1968; the fourth submarine, H.M.S. "Revenge", is due to follow six months later.
§ Mr. CampbellFor how long is this independent deterrent to be retained? In particular, are the Government planning to develop a more modern warhead for the missiles to prolong the life of the Polaris system?
§ Mr. MasonThe deployment and development of hardened or Poseidon warheads for carriers and submarines is an entirely different question from that on the Order Paper, which concerns commissioning.
§ Mr. HaleIn view of the Prime Minister's clear undertaking on this question, may we be assured that all these had, at the time of the 1964 election, reached a stage at which it was impossible to stop their progress or cancel their production because they could not be adapted for any other purposes?
§ Mr. MasonYes, Sir. The House should also be aware—especially my hon. Friend—that, when a Government embark on building a very complex and expensive weapons system like this, lead items are ordered in many cases two years before the keel of the vessel is laid.
§ Mr. James DavidsonI should like to ask the Minister what estimate has been made of the running expenses of the Polaris submarines when they are commissioned.
§ Mr. MasonI could not give that information without notice, but I shall be pleased to write to the hon. Member about it.
§ Mr. RankinWill my hon. Friend ensure that when either of these is launched there is no mud about, because the last one was a very undignified spectacle?