HC Deb 08 February 1982 vol 17 cc285-6W
Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the additional cost to the Ministry of Defence's budget in the financial years 1982–83 and 1983–84 of the Government's decision (a) to close the naval dockyard and base at Chatham and (b) to run down the naval dockyard at Portsmouth.

Mr. Blaker

There will be no additional net cost to the Ministry of Defence in the financial years 1982–83 and 1983–84 as a result of the decisions to close the naval dockyard and base at Chatham and to run down the naval dockyard at Portsmouth.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much will be the net saving to the Ministry of Defence's budget in the financial year 1983–84 if the naval dockyard in Gibraltar is closed by the end of the financial year 1982–83.

Mr. Blaker

Consultations are proceeding with the Gibraltar Government on possible economic activities which might be introduced after closure of Gibraltar dockyard, and the precise date in 1983 when closure will take place has not yet been decided. If the dockyard is closed by the end of the financial year 1982–83 the net saving to the Ministry of Defence budget in 1983–84 could be up to £10 million.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much will be the net saving to the Ministry of Defence's budget in the financial year 1984–85 if the naval dockyard at Portsmouth is run down as envisaged in Cmnd. 8288 "The United Kingdom Defence Programme: the Way Forward".

Mr. Blaker

The net saving to the defence budget in the financial year 1984–85 is expected to be between £65 million and £70 million at September 1981 prices. These figures do not take account of the possible sale of redundant assets.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much will be the net saving to the Ministry of Defence's budget in the financial year 1984–85 if, as envisaged in Cmnd. 8288 "The United Kingdom Defence Programme: the Way Forward", the naval dockyard and base at Chatham is closed by the end of the financial year 1983–84.

Mr. Blaker

The net saving to the defence budget in the financial year 1984–85 is expected to be between £65 million and £70 million at September 1981 prices. These figures do not take account of the possible sale of redundant assets.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the additional cost to the Ministry of Defence's budget for the financial year 1982–83 of the Government's decision to close the naval dockyard at Gibraltar.

Mr. Blaker

The precise date in 1983 when closure will take place has not yet been decided. It is therefore not possible to give the information requested.