HC Deb 24 February 2003 vol 400 cc308-9W
Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the S and T class submarines which(a) have completed, (b) are undergoing and (c) will in future undergo major upgrades together with the (i) completion and (ii) due completion dates in each case. [98241]

Mr. Ingram

Upgrades to S and T class submarines are generally undertaken during docking periods of maintenance lasting six months or during major refit and refuel periods lasting three years. These are known as Upkeep Periods. All S and T Class submarines will undergo a number of Upkeep Periods throughout their lives, and those whose last Upkeep Period included an upgrade, and which are not currently undergoing an Upkeep Period are:

Submarine Completion date1
HMS Splendid Spring 1998
HMS Superb Summer 1998
HMS Tireless Summer 1999
HMS Triumph Winter 1999
HMS Trafalgar Summer 2000
HMS Turbulent Spring 2002
HMS Sovereign Autumn 2002
HMS Torbay Winter 2002
1Dates shown are when the submarine rejoined the fleet.

Submarines currently undergoing an Upkeep Period and upgrade are HMS Sceptre and HMS Spartan, both of which are due to rejoin the fleet by summer 2003 and HMS Trenchant, which is due to rejoin the fleet by autumn 2003.

The next planned refit and upgrade is that of HMS Talent which is expected to commence in spring 2003 and take approximately three years to complete including post refit trials and training. Details of Upkeep Periods beyond 2003 are classified, and I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.