§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long HMS Unseen and her sister submarine have been in active service; when it is planned to withdraw546W them from service; what has been the cost to his Department of maintaining these vessels to date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyThe four Upholder class submarines were accepted by the Royal Navy from builders on the following dates:
- HMS Upholder—6 December 1990
- HMS Unseen—19 July 1991
- HMS Ursula—2 June 1992
- HMS Unicorn—23 July 1993
HMS Unseen and HMS Upholder were withdrawn from service on 6 April and 28 April 1994 respectively. Although it is not our practice to reveal the planned pay-off dates of individual vessels, we have previously made clear that the entire class will be withdrawn by 1995.
The cost incurred in maintaining the vessels of the Upholder class since their acceptance from builders has been approximately £2,690,000.