§ Mr. Denzil Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether there is an ordering pattern for the procurement of the new type 2400 diesel-electric Upholder class conventional submarine;
(2) what is the current projected timetable for the replacement of existing conventionally powered submarines by and with the T2400 Upholder class diesel-electric submarine; and whether it is still on schedule;
(3) if he still intends to replace existing Oberon class and Porpoise class conventional submarines with the T2400 diesel-electric Upholder class submarine.
§ Mr. LeeIt has been stated on previous occasions that the highly capable Upholder class of conventional diesel-electric powered submarines is planned to replace the older Oberon class. An order was placed in January for the first three follow-on vessels of this class. As I said on 16 January, at column642, although no decisions have yet been taken on the timing of future orders for this class, I would hope that these orders would be placed in the early 1990s.