§ Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present estimate of the cost of producing a Polaris submarine, less missiles, and the cost of producing the latest type of Fleet submarine armed with conventional weapons; how many of each type of submarine the Government intends to construct during the next five years; and what the total cost of this future programme will amount to.
§ Mr. John Morris:The cost of the Royal Navy's four Polaris submarines, less missiles, but including first of class costs, has varied between £ 40.2 million and £ 37.5 million. There are no plans for procuring more of these boats. The estimated final cost of the latest Fleet submarine to be accepted into H.M. Service, Warspite, is £21.5 million. For commercial reasons, it is not customary to publish the estimated final cost of ships before they are ordered or while they are still under construction. Future Fleet submarines will be of the improved type announced in paragraph 22 of Chapter IV of the 1968 Statement on the Defence Estimates. An order for the ninth Fleet submarine is expected to be placed shortly.