HC Deb 05 May 2004 vol 420 cc1513-5W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the benefits of full-sized aircraft carriers. [161245]

Mr. Ingram

The Strategic Defence Review concluded that the current Invincible class carriers should be replaced by two larger, more versatile, aircraft carriers capable of carrying a more powerful embarked air component. The carriers would have broad utility across a range of roles, consistent with the focus of maritime forces towards rapid deployment operations and wider power projection.

Size is not, however, an end in itself and the Department has not sought to fix the dimensions of these new aircraft carriers during the Assessment Phase of the CVF project. Parameters such as the ships size will instead reflect the design needed to meet the level of capability sought. It is to be expected that the design, and therefore size, of the ships will evolve as the Department seeks to balance, in conjunction with industry, overall performance, time and cost as part of normal Assessment Phase activity.

Mr. Nicholas Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the BAE Systems and Thales partnership is still his preferred prime contractor for the aircraft carrier programme; what alternatives are under consideration; when the appointment will be confirmed; and if he will make a statement. [166013]

Mr. Ingram

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence Announced on 30 January 2003, the best means of delivering the carrier programme is via an alliance approach involving BAE Systems, Thales UK and the Ministry of Defence.

The alliance approach remains the best way to deliver the programme within the time and cost parameters, and we continue to engage in discussions on the alliancing strategy to determine roles and responsibilities. Ministers are currently considering proposals on the overall CVF programme, the alliance strategy, and on when to proceed to the Demonstration and Manufacture phases.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ensure that(a) the entire value of future aircraft carriers will be spent in the UK and (b) in the event that overseas suppliers are necessary, 100 per cent. of the value of such contracts will be offset by purchases from the UK. [167641]

Mr. Ingram

It is intended that the Future Aircraft Carriers will be acquired in accordance with defence industrial policy and also to provide the armed forces with the equipment they require at the best value for money for the taxpayer. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 January 2003,Official Report, column 404W to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle).

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that the final assembly and integration of modules of all future aircraft carriers will be at a UK shipyard; and if he will list the UK shipyards which have this capability; [167642]

(2) if he will list those companies which he has assessed as having the capability to construct the principal modules which will make up future aircraft carriers. [167643]

Mr. Ingram

In accordance with Government policy for the construction of Royal Navy warships, the Future Aircraft Carriers will be built in UK shipyards. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 30 January 2003, a combination of four UK shipyards potentially offer the best way forward to build and assemble the vessels: BAE Systems Naval Ships at Govan, Vosper Thornycroft at Portsmouth, Swan Hunter on Tyneside and Babcock BES at Rosyth. We have not, however, ruled out the involvement of other yards and facilities depending on the build strategy that is selected. Final decisions on the potential four shipyards and other manufacturing; facilities will be made based on achieving value for money while taking due cognisance of capability, capacity and resources across the UK shipbuilding industry