§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to use the Public Private Partnership to procure new vessels for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of such procurement for front-line vessels; [37206]
(2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the procurement of new ships for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron; [37207]
(3) what assessment he has made of the impact of the delay in procuring new ships for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron on the Squadron's operational affectiveness; and if he will make a statement. [37208]
§ Mr. SpellarPlans to replace the surveying capability currently provided by vessels of the Hydrographic Survey Squadron include the possibility of a Private Finance Initiative, PFI, solution to the requirement. We are nearing completion of the evaluation of PFI proposals, which includes an assessment of the operational implications of procuring an Oceanographic and Hydrographic capability through such Private Partnership arrangements rather than through direct procurement of survey vessels by the MOD. A decision should be made on the preferred550W procurement route within the next few months. In the meantime, although limited by age and weather, the current ships continue to carry out their tasks effectively.