§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings will be made in each year to 2012 by the decisions(a) to bring forward the withdrawal of (i) 5 squadron, (ii) the RN Sea Harriers and (iii) HMS Fearless and (b) to reduce (1) the state of readiness of HMS Sheffield and (2) the number of Nimrod aircraft on order. [49673]
§ Mr. IngramI refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to him on 24 April 2002,Official Report, column 262W, 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1078W, and 15 April 2002, Official Report, columns 712–13W. In the case of Sea Harrier decision, further to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 16 April 2002, Official Report, columns 823–34W, the estimated savings (net of the costs of the related upgrading of the Harrier GR7 to GR9) over the period 2002–03 to 2005–06 (the latest year for which we have accurate figures) are some £109 million. The net savings accruing from the current plan to hold HMS Sheffield at extended readiness between 2002 and 2004 are estimated to be some £28 million over the period 2002–03 to 2004–05. All savings are compared to previous plans.