§ 77. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Secretary of State for Defence how the figure of £1,400 million as the cost of a carrier 298W force over the next 10 years is made up; and if he will specify to what it refers.
§ Mr. HealeyThe figure of £1,400 million for the carrier force in the period 1966–67 to 1975–76 includes the following items:
the costs of operating the existing carriers for the 10 years or until they are taken out of commission as appropriate;
the costs of CVA 01;
the capital and running costs of those support ships required for the carriers;
the costs of operating the fixed wing elements of the Fleet Air Arm and those helicopters associated with the carriers, including costs of associated RN air stations;
the costs, falling within the 10-year period, of the purchase of new aircraft;
the costs of Fleet Air Arm flying training (excluding flying training for the helicopters not associated with the carriers); and
the costs of R and D related to carriers and their aircraft.