§ 7. Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects 444 the Royal Navy's first nuclear-powered surface warship will be laid down.
§ Mr. John MorrisI have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 11th December, 1968.—[Vol. 775, c. 150.]
§ Mr. FarrIs it not time the Government did something about this? Is he aware that not only the United States but Russia, Germany, Italy and Japan all have nuclear-powered surface vessels either in use or in preparation for use?
§ Mr. MorrisWithin the resources we can devote to the Royal Navy in the next few years, we simply cannot afford a programme of nuclear surface ships using the reactors available at present.