HC Deb 14 February 1984 vol 54 cc111-2
3. Mr. Sackville

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the request for new bids for a ship-to-ship missile for the Royal Navy, if he now expects to meet the original time scale laid down for fitting armaments during the construction of type 23 frigates.

10. Mr. Stern

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he took into account potential damage to export prospects of the Sea Eagle family of weapons when deciding to call for rebids for the Royal Navy ship-launched weapons by 15 February.

Mr. Lee

During the Ministry of Defence's evaluation of the several proposals for a new surface-to-surface guided weapon for the Royal Navy, British Aerospace, one of the contenders, approached the Department last October with a revised offer on ship-launched Sea Eagle. In order to be fair to all the contenders, and to maintain the discipline of competition, we have invited the companies concerned to submit their best and final offers, incorporating any last-minute adjustments they may wish to make, so as to allow a decision to be taken in the near future. This will allow the time scale for fitting weapons to the type 23 frigate to be met.

The Ministry's evaluation of the several proposals takes into account a wide variety of factors, including sales prospects where appropriate.

Mr. Sackville

Is my hon. Friend aware of the substantial resources, both in manpower and cash, that have been invested, and continue to be invested, by British Aerospace and other contractors in meeting the deadlines set for the proposed contract? Will my hon. Friend assure the House that he will keep to a minimum the damaging delay in coming to his decision?

Mr. Lee

We shall certainly keep any delay to a minimum.

Mr. Stern

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are considerable export prospects for the family of weapons of which the ship-launched Sea Eagle forms a part? Is he further aware that at least one export customer who is seriously interested has been waiting for more than a year for the Government to make a decision on this weapon, and does he agree that that customer and the customers who will follow him will not wait for ever?

Mr. Lee

I assure my hon. Friend that all his points will be taken into account when a decision is made.

Mr. Douglas

What is the construction and ordering programme for the type 23 frigate?

Mr. Lee

Yarrow has been given the design contract, and we are hoping for an in service date of 1988 for the type 23.

Mr. Sayeed

Will my hon. Friend confirm that a decision on the ship-launched Sea Eagle will be made in the first half of 1984?

Mr. Lee

I very much hope so.

Mr. McNamara

Will the Under-Secretary of State now answer the question? What effect will the delay in deciding on the weapon system have on the time scale for the building of the vessel? Can he guarantee that the vessel will be delivered on time and that there will be no extra cost as a result of the delay?

Mr. Lee

I assure the hon. Gentleman that the delay will have no effect. We are on schedule for a 1988 in service date for the type 23.