Nuclear Submarines (Hansard, 22 February 1990)

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year for the last 10 years, the number of service men serving on(a) Valiant and (b) Churchill class nuclear submarines, who have been diagnosed as suffering from radiation contamination.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
No personnel in any class of Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine have received a radiation dose from radioactive contamination during the last 10 years.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the results of the inspections carried out on the five Royal Navy Valiant and Churchill class nuclear submarines, in respect of suspected reactor faults.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
It is not our practice to comment on specific features of the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered submarines. The programme of inspections of all the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered submarines is continuing.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected service life of(a) Valiant and (b) Churchill class nuclear submarines.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
We expect Valiant and Churchill class submarines to remain in service for their design lives of about 25 to 30 years.