HC Deb 04 July 1991 vol 194 cc213-4W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the programmed acceptance date for the first of class for a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines envisaged in Staff Target (Sea) 7027.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The first of class submarine envisaged in Staff Target (Sea) 7027 was expected to enter service by the end of the century. The precise date is classified.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure to date has been incurred on feasibility studies into an SSN20 class of submarine.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

To date expenditure of some £44 million has been incurred on the SSN20 feasibility studies. These studies have produced valuable information which will be of use for both the studies into a batch 2 Trafalgar class and for the programme to update the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class sonar capability.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he commissioned the first feasibility studies into the SSN20 class of nuclear-powered submarines.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Feasibility studies into an SSN20 class nuclear-powered submarine were approved in February 1986.