§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's requirements are for the Alternative Landing Ship Logistics; what is the payload breakdown of the ALSL; when the final decisions on awarding contracts for construction will be made; what is the target price; and if he will make a statement. [122980]
§ Dr. MoonieThe ALSLs are required to move men, equipment and stores to wherever they are required in the world and to be able to deploy them as a fighting force. Each vessel's minimum payload will include 350 military personnel, 500 linear metres of vehicles, 106 tonnes of war maintenance reserve plus two Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVPs) and two Mexeflote powered rafts. The achievement of greater payloads, within cost constraints, is being sought in the Invitation to Tender.
Contract placement for the design and build of two new ALSLs is planned to occur later this year. The estimated target price for the construction of the two vessels is approximately £138 million.