§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of the dockyard study carried out in his Department.
§ Mr. BlakerThe dockyard study group was set up in 1979 under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Speed) to examine the role, organisation and structure of the four home dockyards. Since the report was completed, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has undertaken a comprehensive review of the defence programme (Cmnd. 8288) which has led to a major reduction in dockyard load and capacity. This has considerably changed the context in which the dockyard study was undertaken but a number of studies are in hand which are taking into account the recommendations of the dockyard study wherever appropriate.