§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present total number of submarines in the fleet other than the Polaris boats; and whether it is intended that this total will rise or fall as a result of scrapping and new deliveries.
§ Mr. BlakerTwenty-eight nuclear powered and conventional submarines are currently in the fleet. On present plans overall numbers are likely to remain generally constant, though the fleet will contain a higher proportion of nuclear-powered boats.
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§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many new diesel-powered submarines are to be acquired.
§ Mr. PattieAs my right hon. Friend said in the House on 25 June, we shall be proceeding as fast as possible with a new and more effective class of conventional submarine. It is, however, not our practice to forecast so far in advance the total number of ships or submarines of a particular class to be acquired.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the lead ships of the new class of diesel-powered submarine will be built at Barrow and others of the class at Scott Lithgow on the Clyde.
§ Mr. PattieUnder present plans the first of the new class of diesel powered submarines will be built at the Vickers shipyard in Barrow. It is too early to say where further orders might be placed.