§ Mr. Callaghanasked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what estimate of cost the Board of Admiralty based their initial decision to modernise H.M.S. "Victorious"; and what is the latest estimated cost.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasIt would not be in the public interest that I should give the figures requested by the hon. Member. I can, however, say that the latest estimated cost is considerably higher than the figure which the Admiralty had in mind when the ship was taken in hand. The increase is due in part to rising costs and in part to subsequent decisions to incorporate a number of major improvements, including the angled flight deck, which were not envisaged at the time of the original decision.
§ Mr. Callaghanasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what his policy is about the modernisation of further Fleet carriers apart from H.M.S. "Victorious"; and which, and when, and where and at what cost.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasIt is not proposed to modernise any more of the Fleet carriers, at any rate for the time being. Modifications to improve operational efficiency will, of course, be made during the course of normal refits.