HC Deb 10 November 1981 vol 12 cc408-9
7. Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the annual report of the Devonport dockyard, he remains satisfied that the proposed closure of the Chatham dockyard can be carried out without serious risk to the strength of the nuclear hunter-killer submarine fleet.

Mr. Blaker

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Moate

Do not the Devonport report and my hon. Friend's parliamentary answers confirm that the first nuclear refit and refuelling to be undertaken by Devonport will have taken nearly four years—on HMS "Swiftsure"—which is twice as long as it should have taken, compared with Chatham, which has carried out seven nuclear refits and other nuclear work besides? Does my hon. Friend accept that the Chatham nuclear facility is essential if we are to maintain the SSN fleet, which he and my right hon. Friend say is essential to the Royal Navy? If so, will he at least consider retaining the Chatham nuclear facility with a much reduced work force, perhaps under private management, rather than recruiting equal numbers of people at Devonport and Rosyth?

Mr. Blaker

I am sorry, but I cannot accept my hon. Friend's proposal. I have discussed this matter carefully with him, and he knows that I have investigated it with great care. I am satisfied about the capability of the yards at Devonport and Rosyth to cope with our refitting burden. The refit of the SSN currently at Devonport has taken a long time, but my hon. Friend knows that the start was delayed for more than a year by an industrial dispute and that there has been another industrial dispute this year. But that latest industrial dispute affected all the yards, not only Devonport.

Mr. Jay

Can the Minister confirm reports in today's press that the Government are discussing with the United States Government possible modifications in the naval cuts announced by the Secretary of State during the summer?

Mr. Blaker

I cannot confirm those reports. Our position is expressed in the White Paper issued in the summer.

Mr. George Robertson

I appreciate the Minister's embarrassment at the continual barrage of attacks upon him and his colleagues about their decision to close the dockyards. Does he not recognise that all the evidence about the future refit capacity of the Royal dockyards indicates that they are likely to undermine the credibility of a policy based on hunter-killer nuclear submarines? Is it not about time that the Government listened to advice—even the advice of Conservative Members—to reconsider a policy that makes no sense in relation to the future of the fleet?

Mr. Blaker

The hon. Gentleman referred to a barrage of attacks, but, as he knows, it is not only members of the Government Front Bench who are sometimes questioned about their policies. I have looked into this matter with great care. I have recently visited Rosyth, and I shall soon be visiting Devonport. The more I learn about the subject, the more I am satisfied that we shall have adequate capacity for the refitting of our nuclear submarines.