§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the increase in project cost for the Sonar 2054, set out in the major equipment projects tables in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989" and the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988".
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI presume that the hon. Gentleman is questioning the difference in the figures given in the Statement on the Defence Estimates (SDE) 88 and SDE 89. The £310 million given in SDE 88 represents the then approved programme. The £400 million given in SDE 89 includes further production orders and pay and price variations.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the reason for the slippage of one year in the in-service date for the type 2400 submarine, set out in the major equipment projects tables in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989" and the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988".
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe slippage of one year to the delivery date for the type 2400 submarine is due, first, to industrial action at VSEL during 1988; and secondly, because of the number of technical problems with new to service equipment on this, the first of a new class of diesel-electric submarines.