HC Deb 18 November 1981 vol 13 cc160-1W
Sir Frederick Burden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what backlog there will be in the refuelling and refit of SSN submarines in 1986 if no more are sent to Chatham, in view of the fact that the second facility is not yet in use at Devonport and the one now in use will be occupied by HMS "Swiftsure" until mid-1983.

Mr. Blaker

The programme of SSN refits has been planned so as to minimise the risk of a backlog at any time. HMS "Swiftsure's" completion in planned for the second half of 1982, but she is not occupying a berth in the new refitting-refuelling complex. The new refitting-refuelling complex at Devonport came into use last year and has been used so far for the docking of operational submarines. The first refit-refuelling that is planned in that complex is that of HMS "Sovereign" starting in January 1982.

Sir Frederick Burden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many SSN nuclear submarines have already been fitted with long-life cores for their reactors.

Mr. Blaker

All SSNs, apart from "Dreadnought", have been or will be fitted with improved reactor cores.