§ Rachel SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the(a) work, (b) progress and (c) timetable for the interim storage for laid-up submarines. [121465]
§ Mr. IngramOutline proposals from industry, for undertaking the work to store intermediate level waste from our decommissioned nuclear submarines, have now been received and evaluation work has started. An exercise to determine the most effective procurement strategy will also begin shortly. Further consultation 947W with the public is due to commence in August and will inform our own evaluation work, and lead to the selection of potential bidders to be invited to undertake more detailed negotiations from early next year. This is expected to take up to three years to complete and will result in the selection of a preferred bidder and solution.