HC Deb 23 November 1981 vol 13 cc313-4W
Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport will be ready to accept a further nuclear submarine for refit.

Mr. Blaker

The refit of HMS "Sovereign" will begin in January 1982.

Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport to have enough nuclear welders to be able to carry out a full refit programme on hunter-killer nuclear submarines.

Mr. Blaker

Building up the industrial capacity of Devonport, including nuclear welders, is only one of many matters currently being pursued in order to meet the future needs of nuclear submarine refitting there. The enhancements to the work force are planned to match the accelerating workload, which is expected to stabilise by 1983. There is no reason to suppose that we shall he unable to match the number of nuclear welders to the nuclear submarine refitting task as it builds up according to the planned programme.

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