§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's current policy towards the Horizon class replacement for type 42 destroyers.
§ Mr. FreemanWe remain committed to Project Horizon. A memorandum of understanding for the joint development of this project was signed by the three partner nations, Britain, France and Italy, in July of last year. We continue to plan to replace the Royal Navy's type 42 destroyers with the common new generation frigate early in the next century.
Procurement project Original estimated cost £ Current estimated cost £ Original planned in-service date Current in-service date Trident 15.1 billion 11.6 billion December 1994 2December 1994 EF 20001 12.7 billion 14.9 billion December 1998 December 2000 Common New Generation Frigate (project horizon) 4.5 —5 billion 4.5 —5 billion December 2002 3n/a EH101 Merlin1 3.8 billion 3.9 billion December 1993 December 1998 Bowman1 2.1 billion 1.9 billion December 1995 January 2000 Challenger 24 1.1 billion 2.02 billion December 1995 December 1995 Spearfish 885 million 51.1 billion December 1987 March 1994 Asraam 871 million 795 million December 1994 December 1998 Tornado MLU 6829 million 837 million June 1993 September 1998 High Velocity Missile (HVM)7 397 million 411 million December 1990 Mid 1995 Notes:
1 Previously reports in Hansard on 1 February 1995, Official Report,column 744.
2 For first of class. ISD data for the remaining boats is classified.
3 Date classified
4 Costs include Challenger Armament (CHARM) 1 and 3 Programme.
5 Excludes costs of main production order as commercially sensitive.
6 At November 1993 reapproval of 'reduced scope' programme.
7Tranche 1 only.
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