§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer of 9 December, Official Report, column 178, about the amphibious capability study (i) when he expects to complete the study of providing helicopter lift, including the concept of an aviation support ship, (ii) what criteria are to be involved; and (iii) what basic requirements as to the: (a) number of ships, (b) number of helicopters per ship, (c) number of marines to be carried per ship and (d) degree of protection to be provided he has laid down.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWe shall he addressing the means of providing helicopter lift in support of amphibious operations over the next few months. The number of ships will be addressed within our consideration of the overall shape of the amphibious package. Details of the criteria involved are confidential.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer of 9 December, Official Report, column 178, about amphibious capability (i) when he expects Swan Hunter to complete the feasibility study into extending the life of HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, (ii) when he expects to complete feasibility studies for a new design option for their replacement and (iii) which companies will be invited to do this work.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI would expect Swan Hunters to complete the feasibility study into extending the lives of HMS Fearless and Intrepid next summer. As for feasibility studies into the option of building new ships, letters have now been sent to some 80 firms asking whether they wish to participate in this work. On current plans I would expect these studies to be completed in the summer of 1988, with evaluation taking about a further year.