§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 174, what factors contributed to his 188W decision to acquire MV Polar Circle as the replacement ice patrol ship; and what effect his decision had on the operational capabilities of British armed forces.
§ Mr. HanleyAt the time of the purchase of Polar Circle, the Government made clear their commitment to retain the ice patrol task previously discharged by HMS Endurance, whose structural condition made it no longer safe for her to operate in ice. Polar Circle, now re-named HMS Endurance, had been chartered by the Government in October 1991, and the charter contract gave the Government the option before 24 January 1992 to buy the ship or to extend her charter. An investment appraisal was undertaken of the options available for retaining the use of the ship for the longer term, and this concluded that outright purchase of the vessel would be better value for money than either long-term charter or lease. The Government were also satisfied, after an extensive assessment of her operational performance in the Antarctic, that Polar Circle was fully capable of performing the tasks demanded of her. Although a further survey of the merchant shipping market would normally have been conducted before the decision to exercise the purchase option was taken, the limited time available before the simultaneous expiry of the charter and the option to purchase was judged to preclude such an exercise. This decision had no impact on the operational capabilities of the British armed forces.