House of Commons Hansard Debates for 4 Jul 1991

Mr. Alan Clark : Discussions between Ministers and trade associations are conducted on a confidential basis.

Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for reducing his Department's headquarters under "Option for Change".

Mr. Tom King : As I made clear in my statement on 25 July 1990 on "Options for Change" my intention is to make substantial savings across the whole field of defence activities. This will involve both the armed forces and their civilian support and include the MOD headquarters which I have decided to restructure and slim down proportionately to the overall reductions.

I plan to achieve a smaller and more cohesive central headquarters, resulting in savings of about 20 per cent. in the uniformed and civilian top structure. Generally similar reductions will be carried through the organisation as a whole. The fall in numbers in the London element of the headquarters will be proportionately greater because in addition a substantial range of functions will be relocated and will merge with existing support establishments and commands elsewhere. On current expectations staff numbers in London are expected to fall from about 14,500 by some 7,000.

Overall under "Options for Change" the number of MOD civilian posts at home and abroad is currently expected to fall by about 20 per cent., the same proportion as the armed forces. About 20,000 posts will be saved in the United Kingdom and 15,000 abroad. This reduction will go forward at the same pace as in the armed forces overall.

Soviet Navy

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Soviet counterpart regarding the future programme of Soviet naval shipbuilding.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not discussed the future programme of Soviet naval shipbuilding with his Soviet counterpart.

Nuclear-powered Submarines

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the programmed acceptance date for the first of class for a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines envisaged in Staff Target (Sea) 7027.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The first of class submarine envisaged in Staff Target (Sea) 7027 was expected to enter service by the end of the century. The precise date is classified.

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure to date has been incurred on feasibility studies into an SSN20 class of submarine.

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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : To date expenditure of some £44 million has been incurred on the SSN20 feasibility studies. These studies have produced valuable information which will be of use for both the studies into a batch 2 Trafalgar class and for the programme to update the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class sonar capability.

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he commissioned the first feasibility studies into the SSN20 class of nuclear- powered submarines.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Feasibility studies into an SSN20 class nuclear-powered submarine were approved in February 1986.

HMS Fearless and Intrepid

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure to date has been incurred on feasibility studies into (a) replacing HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid and (b) refurbishing HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Expenditure to date on feasibility studies into the replacement of the assault ships amounts to £4.14 million, and that into extending their lives to £161,000.

Sandown Class Minehunters

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies submitted tenders last year for the supply of Sandown class minehunters ; and what was the total value of these tenders.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The four companies invited to tender for the supply of Sandown class minehunters were Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd., Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd., Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. and Swan Hunter Shipbuilders and Engineering Ltd. The tenders covered the supply of various numbers of ships up to a maximum of seven ; the value of the tenders is commercially confidential.

Anti-air Warfare Frigate

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state when he expects to complete his studies of the design of a new anti- air warfare frigate to replace the type 42 destroyer.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 May, Official Report, column 615.

Wing Commander Farquhar

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to identify the person who removed documents and computer materials from the car left unattended by Wing Commander Farquhar in the circumstances which formed the basis of the recent court martial ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The investigation of the theft of materials from the car is a matter for the Metropolitan police. I cannot comment further.

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