§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated additional cost of continuing hunter-killer refitting at Rosyth due to the unavailability of drydock facilities at Devonport. [28238]
§ Mr. FreemanI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cornwall, South-East (Mr. Hicks) on 17 May 1995,Official Report, column 229. Discussions with the dockyard companies are on-going and costs will be one of the considerations taken into account before any final decisions are made.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the deadline for nuclear installations inspectorate approval of the Trident submarine refitting drydock facility at Devonport. [28236]
§ Mr. FreemanThe nuclear installations inspectorate is involved during all stages of approval and the aim remains to have the necessary approvals in place in time to meet the Trident refit programme, around the turn of the century.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the accepted price of the construction of drydock facilities for Trident refitting at Devonport when the contract was awarded; what is the current estimated total cost of building the facilities; and what is the permissible margin for increased costs on the contract. [28237]
33W
§ Mr. FreemanNo contract has yet been awarded for the construction of the Trident refitting facilities. Negotiations are continuing and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome in respect of costs, details of which remain commercially confidential.