§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the interval in months between the ordering of each of the last six nuclear attack submarines including the order now being placed.
§ Mr. PattieThe intervals between the order dates of the last six nuclear powered fleet submarines have been as follows:
SSN months 11–12 39 12–13 16 13–14 10 14–15 12 15–16 23
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many additional nuclear attack submarines will have to be ordered to make up the fleet of 17 referred to in Cmnd. 8288.
§ Mr. PattieAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained to the right hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dr. Owen) on 25 June, we expect to have 17 nuclear attack submarines in the fleet by 1990. We intend to take the necessary steps to achieve this force level which will include new orders. It is not our usual practice to publish details of our plans for future orders.