§ 2.40 p.m.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for further extending the nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE ROYAL NAVY (LORD WINTERBOTTOM)My Lords, the precise rate at which we shall continue to build nuclear-powered Fleet submarines has not yet been settled, but we plan to order a sixth boat early in the New Year.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his reply, and to express appreciation at the fact that the Government have decided to order a further Fleet submarine. I, for one, am very glad to hear this. In view, however, of the time which was taken by the Government to incubate the Defence Review, and the time which has elapsed since the Defence Review, is it not time that the Government reached a firm decision about their future plans for the build-up of this very important element in the modern British Navy?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, as I am certain the noble Earl knows, the Future Fleet Working Party is reaching the end of its studies, and I expect that my colleagues will be able to make a statement on the subject in the not too distant future.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, again, I am grateful for the information given by the noble Lord in his reply to my supplementary question. May I take it there from that we shall have a statement on this matter before the Defence White Paper is issued?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am afraid that that is another question. I cannot answer about the exact timing of such a statement.