HC Deb 10 February 1989 vol 146 cc859-60W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps are being taken to improve communications between the United Kingdom mainland and Royal Navy submarine-launched ballistic missile carrying submarines whilst those submarines are on patrol;

(2) what steps are being taken to improve the floating buoy communications system for use between the United Kingdom mainland and Royal Navy submarine-launched ballistic missile carrying submarines on patrol;

(3) what steps are being taken to improve the trailing wire communications system for use between the United Kingdom mainland and Royal Navy submarine-launched ballistic missile carrying submarines on patrol;

(4) if any improvements have been made to the trailing wire very low frequency communications reception systems fitted to Royal Navy submarine-launched ballistic misile carrying submarines, which enable reception at the depth of more than 10 m;

(5) if any improvements have been made to the trailing wire very low frequency communications reception systems fitted to Royal Navy submarine-launched ballistic missile carrying submarines, which enable reception when the submarine is travelling at other than specific tangents to the shore-based transmitting station;

(6) whether the Anthorn very low frequency transmitter has been, or will be, hardened to resist the (a) blast and (b) electromagnetic pulse effects of a nuclear explosion;

(7) whether the Inskip low frequency transmitter has been, or will be, hardened to resist the (a) blast and (b) electromagnetic pulse effects of a nuclear explosion;

(8) whether the Rugby very low frequency transmitter has been, or will be, hardened to resist the (a) blast and (b) electromagnetic pulse effects of a nuclear explosion;

(9) whether the Criggon very low frequency transmitter has been, or will be, hardened to resist the (a) blast and (b) electromagnetic pulse effects of a nuclear explosion;

(10) whether the Glen Garry trial extremely low frequency transmitter will be, hardened to resist the (a) blast and (b) electromagnetic pulse effects of a nuclear explosion;

(11) whether the Crimond low frequency transmitter has been, or will be, hardened to resist the (a) blast and (b) electromagnetic pulse effects of a nuclear explosion.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I am not prepared to comment for security reasons.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to the commanders of submarine-launched ballistic missile carrying submarines regarding launch autonomy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It has been the policy of successive Governments not to discuss operational matters of this kind.

Back to