§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom personnel are stationed in the US, and US personnel stationed in the United Kingdom, under the terms of the 1958 Agreement and the Polaris sales agreements, as amended for Trident. [21830]
§ Mr. SpellarThere are currently five UK personnel stationed in the US as part of the 1958 Agreement. In addition, 3 AWE employees are there on short-term appointments. A further 15 British personnel are in the USA as part of the Polaris Sales Agreement, as amended for Trident.
As regards US personnel stationed in the UK, none is here under the terms of the 1958 Agreement. There are 4 US employees in the UK as part of the Polaris Sales Agreement, as amended for Trident.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to the United Kingdom of engineering services provided at the Sandia National Laboratory for the development, evaluation, production and stockpile surveillance of the UK's Trident re-entry body system. [21821]
§ Mr. SpellarThe relevant cost this year is estimated to be between $1 and 2 million.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if construction has begun on the new refit yard for Trident submarines at Devonport Royal Dockyard; and if he will make a statement. [21217]
§ Dr. Reid[holding answer 17 December 1997]: The contract with Devonport Management Ltd. covers both the design and construction of Trident submarine refitting and refuelling facilities, and the modernisation of existing nuclear submarine support facilities. Construction work 136W on the existing facilities is progressing. Preparatory work on the Trident facilities, including the detailed design phase, is underway.