§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects HMS Nottingham to return to its port of destination in the UK: if it will be repaired in the Naval facilities in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [75446]
§ Mr. IngramOn current plans, the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Nottingham is expected to arrive in the United Kingdom on, or about, 12 December 2002. While a decision on the ship's future has yet to be made, there is no reason at this time to suppose that repairing her will not be worthwhile. We have therefore invited those UK shiprepair companies with the necessary in-depth knowledge and experience of maintaining and repairing Type 42 Destroyers and their systems to visit the ship to make their own assessments of the damage and tender for any repair work. This invitation has been issued without any commitment from the Ministry of Defence to proceed with the repairs should it not be cost effective to do so. One of the companies invited to visit Nottingham on this basis is Fleet Support Limited, the commercial operators of the Naval facilities at Portsmouth.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) to ask the Secretary of State what has been the cost of salvaging HMS Nottingham since she ran aground, excluding costs of repairs to the ship once in dry dock in the UK; and if he will make a statement; [75447]
(2) what the cost was of berthing HMS Nottingham in Newcastle; and if he will make a statement; [75441]
(3) what the cost was of towing HMS Nottingham from Lord Howe Island to Newcastle; and if he will make a statement; [75440]
(4) what the cost was of bringing HMS Nottingham back to Britain on the heavy lift Swan; and if he will make a statement. [75438]
§ Mr. IngramThe estimated cost of salvaging HMS Nottingham since she ran aground, excluding the costs of any repairs to the ship once in dry dock in the UK, has been some £9 million. This includes approximately £1.4 million to tow Nottingham from Lord Howe Island to Newcastle and berthing-related costs in Newcastle of some £0.4 million. In addition, it is estimated that the cost of returning Nottingham to the UK on the heavy lift ship will be about £3 million.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of flying home the crew from HMS Nottingham; and if he will make a statement. [75442]
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§ Mr. IngramThe total estimated cost of flying HMS Nottingham's crew home from Australia on commercial airlines is expected to be in the region of £200,000. Available RAF aircraft were also used to transport personnel back to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the accommodation for the crew of HMS Nottingham in Australia; and if he will make a statement. [75439]
§ Mr. IngramSince the grounding incident, HMS Nottingham's crew have been accommodated in service accommodation belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force. The bill for this accommodation has not yet been received, but costs are expected to be modest. From 19 October until the ship leaves Australia, essential members of the ship's crew will be accommodated in hotels in Sydney at an estimated cost of around £30,000.