§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much was spent in fitting out SS "Uganda" in April 1982 during conversion from school ship to hospital ship;
(2) how much was spent in the late summer of 1982 fitting out SS "Uganda" during conversion from hospital ship to school ship;
(3) how much he plans to spend in the autumn of 1982, fitting out SS "Uganda" in conversion from school ship to troop transport ship.
§ Mr. Wiggin£286,000 was spent on her original conversion. The exact sum spent on restoration has still to be agreed, but it will be just under £1 million. The work required to convert the SS "Uganda" to a troopship will begin as soon as the ship is taken over on charter from P & O in January 1983 but the full extent of the work required and its cost has yet to be established.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his negotiations with the National Union of Seamen on accommodation standards required for SS "Uganda".
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§ Mr. WigginAccommodation standards for the crew while the vessel is on charter are a matter for P & O and the National Union of Seamen.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the two-year charter fee for SS "Uganda".
§ Mr. WigginThe cost of chartering the "Uganda" is commercially confidential between Her Majesty's Government and the owners.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of installing in SS "Uganda" a helipad in April, taking off the helipad in July and August and reinstalling the helipad in November and December.
§ Mr. WigginThe original fitting of a helipad on the SS "Uganda" cost £157,000. Its removal cost a further £147,000. The cost of installation of a new pad has not yet been established, but it will be larger than the original one as it will be able to take Chinook helicopters, rather than the Sea Kings which were sufficient in the "Uganda's" role as a hospital ship.