HC Deb 02 June 1965 vol 713 cc213-4W
59. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the cost of the four Polaris submarines now under construction; how the cost compares with the latest type of Polaris submarines with Poseidon warheads now being built by the United States Government; what information he has as to why the United States Government is to discontinue building submarines of the type being built for Great Britain; and if he is satisfied that the Polaris submarines will not be obsolete before they are completed.

Mr. Healey

The capital cost of the programme to which the hon. Member refers is of the order of £370 million; this includes the cost of the base from which the submarines will operate. I have no knowledge of the type of submarine construction in the United States to which the hon. Member refers. The Americans are still building Polaris submarines designed to fire the same missiles as our own; they will certainly not be obsolete before they are completed.