§ Mr. TrotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the award of a contract for the repair and refit of HMS Southampton.
§ Mr. SainsburyA firm price contract has been placed today with Swan Hunter Shipbuilders. I would wish to pay tribute to the quality of the tenders we have received, which fully justifies our decision to seek competition. Together with parallel contracts for replacement equipment, and other costs, the full cost of the repair and refit will be some £45 million.
§ Mr. David MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reach a decision on the506W allocation of work to the FMRO Portsmouth following the removal of HMS Southampton from the FMRO programme.
§ Mr. SainsburyI have agreed a package of additional work to cover the remainder of this financial year. Details are being made known locally. Any further changes will depend on the outcome of the longer term studies into the future of the FMRO which I hope to announce shortly.