§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 175, about advice of accounting officers, what additional costs will be incurred over the next three years as a result of his decision to close part only of RNSD Copenacre.
§ Mr. HanleyThe costs that will be incurred over the next three years as a result of the decision to close part only of RNSD Copenacre will be lower than those estimated under the full closure option.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official 350W Report, column 175, about advice of accounting officers, what will be the general effects on the size and shape of the United Kingdom's shipbuilding industry of his decision to award the order for the second auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel on a single tender basis.
§ Mr. AitkenThe contract for the second auxiliary oiler replenishment ship, RFA Fort George, was placed with Swan Hunter on 18 December 1987. The ship was accepted from that company in March 1993. It is not possible to estimate what general effects this decision had on the size and shape of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 174, what was the approximate date on which he decided to place an order for image intensifiers with English Electric Values; and what was the total value of the order, and the impact of his decision on (a) the operational capabilities of the armed forces and (b) the size and shape of the British defence industry.
§ Mr. AitkenThe decision to place an order for image intensifiers with English Electric Values was made in March 1992; the value of the order was less than £10 million. The decision had no impact on the operational capabilities of the armed forces and was essential in maintaining an United Kingdom source of specialised image intensifier tubes.