HC Deb 01 February 1993 vol 218 cc35-6W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions, in which years and at what cost the royal yacht Britannia has been refitted since her launch.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The following is the information:

Costs of repairing and refitting HMY Britannia in Her Majesty's dockyards
Dates of refits Financial year £000 at outturn prices
September 1954 to December 1954 1954–55 68
October 1955 to March 1956 1955–56 100
September 1957 to January 1958 1957–58 184
November 1960 to March 1961 1960–61 218
March 1962 to January 1963 1962–63 72
December 1964 to April 1965 1964–65 333
August 1967 to November 1967 1967–68 258
August 1969 to December 1969 1969–70 481
October 1972 to July 1973 1972–73 1,213
1973–74
January 1976 to April 1976 1975–76 1,286
September 1979 to April 1980 1979–80 14,990
September 1983 to March 1984 1983–84 16,000
January 1987 to October 1987 1986–87 117,000
1987–88
November 1991 to May 1992 1991–92 17,000
1992–93
1 Best estimates. More detailed figures can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the refit on the royal yacht Britannia in 1992 was spent on(a) superstructure, (b) engines, (c) royal apartments and (d) other.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The work carried out during Britannia's refit in 1992 can be broken down as follows:

per cent.
Structure 24
Engines 34
Royal apartments 6
Other 36

Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions, on what dates and where the royal yacht Britannia has been used as a hospital ship.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Circumstances have not required Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia to fulfil the wartime role of hospital ship. In view of her age, and the availability of other more suitable vessels, it has been decided that there is no longer a requirement for Britannia to retain this role.

Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of the refit on the royal yacht Britannia begun in 1987.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Approximately £17 million.