§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the closure of HMS Cambridge. [125010]
§ Mr. SpellarThe proposed closure of HMS Cambridge is now subject to formal consultation, which is not due to complete until 26 June 2000, and a formal statement on the closure cannot be made until after this date. However the recommendations of the Investment Appraisal were that, following the cessation of live gunnery firing at HMS Cambridge, it was likely that the remainder of the establishment's training activity, namely Non Firing Gunnery Training, Board and Search Training and Naval Military Training, could be delivered more cost-effectively elsewhere. Indications are that the earliest date that a co-ordinated closure could be achieved is April 2001. Live firing for initial and career course training ceased in October 1999.
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§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings will accrue from the closure of HMS Cambridge. [125056]
§ Mr. SpellarFollowing the cessation of live gunnery firing at HMS Cambridge, it was likely that the remainder of the establishment's training activity, namely, Non Firing Gunnery Training, Board and Search Training and Naval Military Training, could be delivered more cost-effectively elsewhere. The completed Investment Appraisal shows that, against a capital cost of £7.8 million, the projected overall savings to the Ministry of Defence over the 25 years appraisal period would be £112 million (net present value £49 million). The capital cost is for transferring training to HMS Raleigh, HMS Collingwood and HMS Dryad.