§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the disposal of Royal Navy submarines not powered by nuclear reactors. [134928]
§ Dr. MoonieI refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend Lord Robertson, the then Secretary of State for Defence, gave on 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 57W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (Mr. Healey) and to the answer I gave on 23 October 2000, Official Report, column 30W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock). Canada has acquired the four ex-Royal Navy Upholder class submarines, which are powered by diesel-electric engines. The acquisition takes the form of an eight-year lease with an option of outright purchase.
The first of the submarines was handed over to Canada on 6 October 2000 and the three remaining submarines will follow over the next 18 months.
There are no other Royal Navy submarine exports.