HC Deb 18 November 1981 vol 13 cc159-60W
Sir Frederick Burden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement amplifying his statement on 7 July, Official Report, column 283, that Devonport's programme provides for accelerating SSN refit with start dates inititially at 16 months, closing gradually to 12 months down to 10 months.

Mr. Blaker

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence stated that, prior to the defence review, Devonport's programme provided for accelerating SSN refits.—[Vol. 8, c. 283.] The closure of Chatham dockyard means that it will be necessary to achieve the 10-month start date interval earlier than originally planned. This will be achieved by extending refit intervals following the fitting of the long life reactor core; by discontinuing mid-life modernisations of surface ships, which will enable a greater proportion of dockyard effort to be devoted to SSNs; and by the increase planned in the work force. The new refitting-refuelling complex, which will shortly be brought into use for SSN refitting, will also be a significant factor in achieving a successful programme.

Sir Frederick Burden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that the estimate for the earliest completion of the refuelling and refit of HMS "Swiftsure" at Devonport is mid-1983, which will be three and a half years after the work began, when it is believed that the work force and facilities at Devonport will be able to match the two years average operated on two streams which has been accomplished at Chatham over the last seven years.

Mr. Blaker

Work on HMS "Swiftsure" began in April 1980 and completion is at present scheduled for the second half of 1982. The future programme of SSN refits at Devonport is based upon planned refit times averaging two years.

Sir Frederick Burden

asked the Secretary o f State for Defence how many SSN nuclear submarines are awaiting refuelling and refit operations at Devonport.

Mr. Blaker

Apart from HMS "Sovereign", which is at present at Devonport undergoing normal pre-refit trials and work, no SSNs are awaiting refuelling or refit at Devonport.