§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects to issue tender documents for the new coastal survey vessel whose intended procurement was announced to Parliament more than 12 months ago;
(2) how long tenders for type 22 frigates and type 42 destroyers, respectively, have been in his Department; and when he expects to take a decision;
(3) if he will consult North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ambassadors about his defence review; and, if so, when such consultations will start:,
(4) if he will consult the appropriate trade union and staff associations about the defence review; and if so, when such consultations wilt start;
(5) what ordering rate of frigates is required to maintain present numbers through the next two decades, assuming scrapping of ships after 15,20 and 25 years' life, respectively;
(6) what is his policy on contributions from both individuals and organisations to the defence review he is undertaking;
(7) if, in the defence review, he is prepared to consider the compulsory redundancy of Service men and women and civilian staff, respectively;
(8) if it is his intention that there should be sufficient continuity of naval shipping orders to ensure the continued existence of Vickers, Yarrows and Vospers Southampton shipyards;
(9) if he will have specific consultations with the British merchant shipping industry about his defence review; and, if so, when such consultations will start;
(10) if it is his intention to keep three Invincible class anti-submarine warfare carriers operational throughout this decade;
(11)if he will list the amount of public funds already committed to long lead and other items of equipment, subcontracting and fabrication of nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine No. 16 yet to be ordered;
(12) what proportion of (a) his Department's current 1981–90 financial programme and (b) the Royal Navy's current 1981–90 financial programme is represented by all costs associated with the Trident programme over this period;
(13) what ordering rate of nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarines is required to have 12, 15 and 18 operational at all times, respectively, by 1985, 1990 and 1995;
(14) if he will consult the following North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commanders: Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Commander in Chief Channel and 417W Eastern Atlantic and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, respectively, about his defence review; and, if so, when such consultations will start;
(15) when all the tenders for the Hong Kong patrol craft were received in his Department; how long he expects their evaluation to take; and when orders will be placed;
(16) when he intends to place an order for nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine No. 16; and when is its planned date of entry into operational service.
§ Mr. NottI made clear in the defence debate on 19 May the nature and scope of the examination of the defence programme at present under way; that it was being undertaken within the context of the United Kingdom's commitment to NATO; and that I would bring forward proposals at the earliest possible date.