Naval Equipment Programme (Hansard, 20 July 1994)

§ Mr. Aitken

As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State made clear in his statement to the House on 14 July, the defence costs study "Front Line First" has enabled us to make a number of significant enhancements to our front-line naval capability. During the course of the statement, an order was announced for a further batch of seven Sandown class single role minehunters, and an invitation to tender for the design and build of a second batch of the highly successful Trafalgar class of nuclear-powered submarines. We shall also shortly issue an intiation to tender for two new assault ships to replace HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid. In addition, we plan to issue an invitation to tender for a further batch of type 23 frigates during the coming year. The Government will assess the case thereafter on the basis of price and operational need. The purchase of additional antisubmarine and gunnery targets was also announced, and this will allow more realistic training for ships and naval aircraft deployed away from usual target facilities.

We announced that we will be examining the case for acquiring conventionally armed Tomahawk land attack missiles for the Navy, and we will be seeking information from the Government of the United States of America and from industry.

Other major projects in the future naval equipment programme, such as Trident, the common new generation frigate—Project Horizon—and the EH101 Merlin helicopter, continue to make good progress.

This is a substantial programme of investment in new equipment, and the decision announced on 14 July represent a major boost to British industry, as well as providing vital enhancements to the Royal Navy.