§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what savings will accrue from the proposal in the White Paper Command Paper No. 5976 to reduce by one-seventh the planned number of destroyers, frigates and mine countermeasure vessels;
(2) what savings will accrue from the proposal in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 5976 to reduce by one-quarter the planned numbers of conventionally powered submarines.
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§ Mr. JuddIt is not the practice to reveal details of this kind, but I can say that savings in running costs on an annual basis are estimated to be of the order of £15 million for the reduction in destroyers, frigates and mine countermeasure vessels and £5 million for that in conventional submarines. Further substantial savings will accrue from reductions in general support expenditure and, in the case of destroyers and frigates, from reductions in the new construction programme.