§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on charter costs for ferries to transport military assets in each of the last five years; on how many occasions and to what locations equipment was moved; and if he will make a statement. [119165]
§ Dr. MoonieThe information requested is not available on a consistent basis prior to Financial Year (FY) 1996–97. The following table shows the number of ships, excluding tankers, chartered from FY 1996–97 to FY 1999–2000 to transport military assets.
§ Dr. MoonieGovernment policy, which is followed by the Defence Procurement Agency, is for warships to be built in the UK. UK warship builders are not, therefore, disadvantaged in relation to foreign competition.
The shipbuilding programme that has emerged from the Strategic Defence Review represents a considerable commitment and provides UK Shipbuilding Industry with a firm basis to invest, and modernise.
Taken together, the policy for warship building and the future requirements for warships should ensure that the UK retains the capacity for warship construction.