§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the(a) target in service date for the replacements for (i) RFA Sir Geraint and (ii) RFA Sir Percivale and (b) the planned capacity of the replacements; [84510]
(2) what is the target date for completion of the replacements for RFA (a) Sir Geraint and (b) Sir Percivale; [84509]
(3) when RFA Sir Geraint and RFA Sir Percivale will be taken out of service; and what is the target date for the contract to be let for their replacement. [84522]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 May 1999:
I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Alternative Landing Ships Logistic (ALSL) programme to replace RFAs SIR GERAINT and SIR PERCIVALE. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.The ALSLs will be required to transport and deliver troops, vehicles and stores as integral elements of an amphibious task force off-loaded at sea to landing craft. Options for the capacity of these new vessels will be dependent on the designs offered by industry in their bids, but we expect each vessel to embark between 350 and 500 military personnel and to have between 500 and 1000 lane metres of capacity.We plan to place the contract for the ALSLs in mid 2000 with a target date for completion of the two vessels (defined as the Contract Acceptance Date) of Summer 2003 and early 2004 respectively. The planned in service dates are early 2004 and Autumn 2004. Full passenger certification for RFAs SIR GERAINT and SIR PERCIVALE will expire in 2003 and 2004, but they will continue to operate as logistic support ships until they are replaced by the new ALSLs.