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25 Mar 2009 : Column 442W—continued

A wide range of ISOLUS-related matters were discussed at the meeting on 11 March 2009. Notes from the meeting will be published on the ISOLUS website in April 2009 in line with normal practices.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many decommissioned UK nuclear-powered submarines with nuclear fuel in their reactors are at Devonport Royal Dockyard; [265499]

(2) where the UK nuclear-powered submarines located at Devonport Royal Dockyard will be housed after they have been defuelled. [265500]

Mr. Quentin Davies: There are four decommissioned UK nuclear powered submarines that have fuel in their reactors at Devonport Royal Dockyard.

The plan is that they will remain there until a decision on the dismantling solution has been made.

It is the intention to make an announcement about the dismantling solution in 2010.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be made on the movement of decommissioned British nuclear powered submarines from Rosyth Dockyard. [265501]

Mr. Quentin Davies: The movement of submarines will depend on the dismantling programme that is being developed by the Interim Storage of Laid-Up Submarines (ISOLUS) Project. This will be confirmed when the project receives Main Gate approval, which is scheduled for 2014.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the collision with Le Triomphant resulted in damage to the torpedo tube hatches on HMS Vanguard; and whether torpedoes were unloaded from HMS Vanguard before it was docked in the Faslane shiplift on 20 February 2009. [265947]

Mr. Hutton: I am withholding information about any damage that may have been sustained by HMS Vanguard as a result of the collision with FS Le Triomphant on the grounds of national security. I can confirm that the nuclear safety and security of HMS Vanguard was not compromised. It is standard procedure to off-load torpedoes from an SSBN before it enters the Faslane Shiplift facility.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Vanguard will return to full operational capacity. [267071]


25 Mar 2009 : Column 443W

Mr. Hutton: I am withholding information about the operational capacity of HMS Vanguard on the grounds of national security. I can confirm that the requirements of the deterrent patrol cycle will continue to be met.

RAF St. Athan

Mr. Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he expects the Defence College of Communications and Information Systems to have completed its transfer from Blandford Camp to St. Athan. [266459]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The current estimate is for the Defence College of Communications and Information Systems to be fully operational at St. Athan by May 2015. This date remains subject to final approval of the main investment decision of the DTR Package 1 Project, subsequent contract agreement and confirmation of the transition planning arrangements.

Reserve Forces

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the Volunteer Reserve has been committed to operations in each year since 1997, broken down by service. [257684]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Information on Volunteer Reservists committed to operations is not held centrally in individual level databases, and therefore it is not possible to calculate the percentage of Volunteer Reservists committed to operations in each year without incurring disproportionate cost.

The forthcoming Reserves Review will make reference to “over 21,000 Volunteer Reserves” mobilised since 2003. However, data on Volunteer Reserves mobilisations are not held centrally in individual level databases and therefore it is not possible to split this approximate total by service, or to calculate the exact number of mobilisations within any year.

Aggregated snapshot: data of the number of mobilised Volunteer Reservists are available and therefore it is possible to calculate the percentage of Volunteer Reservists mobilised at given points in time. The following tables show the number and percentage of Volunteer Reservists mobilised at 1 April in each year for which data are available, for each service:

Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marine Reserve mobilisations at 1 April each year

 Strength Of which: mobilised Percentage mobilised

1997

4,260

(1)—

(1)—

1998

4,440

(1)—

(1)—

1999

4,520

(1)—

(1)—

2000

4,820

(1)—

(1)—

2001

4,830

(1)—

(1)—

2002

4,980

(1)—

(1)—

2003

4,910

370

7.5

2004

4,480

60

1.3

2005

4,360

20

0.5

2006

(2)—

(2)—

(2)—

2007

3,680

80

2.2

2008

3,590

180

5.0

(1) Zero or rounded to zero
(2) Not available

25 Mar 2009 : Column 444W

Territorial Army mobilisations at 1 April each year

 Strength Of which mobilised Percentage mobilised

2004

38,320

2,890

7.5

2005

37,260

1,460

3.9

2006

38,460

1,110

2.9

2007(1)

36,790

1,020

2.8

2008(2)

(3)35,020

(3)1,360

(3)3.9

(1) 2007 Territorial Army data are as at 1 March
(2) 2008 Territorial Army data are as at 1 June
(3) Provisional

Figures for actual strength of TA personnel prior to 2004 are not held centrally.

Royal Auxiliary Air Force mobilisations at 1 April each year

 Strength Of which mobilised Percentage mobilised

1997

2,020

(1)—

(1)—

1998

2,490

(1)—

(1)—

1999

2,620

20

0.8

2000

2,740

40

1.5

2001

2,570

20

0.8

2002

2,590

80

3.1

2003

2,580

840

32.6

2004

2,580

20

0.8

2005

2,450

30

1.2

2006

2,300

90

3.9

2007

(2)2,160

(2)200

(2)9.3

2008

(2)2,200

(2)100

(2)4.5

(1) Not available
(2) Provisional

Warships

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many orders were placed for new (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels in each year since 1979. [265140]

Mr. Quentin Davies: Order dates (when build contracts were let) are provided in the following table for the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, the Astute Class submarines and the Type 45 destroyers. As there is no requirement to keep contractual information for Royal Navy and Royal Auxiliary vessels beyond seven years, order dates for all other vessels built since 1979 are no longer held. The table does, however, include details of when building work commenced on these other vessels as this is the next significant milestone following the order date.


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25 Mar 2009 : Column 448W
Vessel

Royal Navy (incl. submarines and surface ships) Royal Fleet Auxiliary Total

1979

HMS Trafalgar (Trafalgar Class Submarine)

16

HMS Gloucester (Type 42 Destroyer)

HMS Boxer (Type 22 Frigate)

HMS Cattistock (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Brocklesbury (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Cottesmore (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Dulverton (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Chiddingfold (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Middleton (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Hurworth (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Bicester (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Atherstone (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Berkeley (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Quorn (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Ledbury (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Alderney (Offshore Patrol Vessel)

1980

HMS Turbulent (Trafalgar Class Submarine)

4

HMS Edinburgh (Type 42 Destroyer)

HMS York (Type 42 Destroyer)

HMS Beaver (Type 22 Frigate)

1981

HMS Tireless (Trafalgar Class Submarine)

Bayleaf (Auxiliary Oiler)

5

HMS Brave (Type 22 Frigate)

Diligence (Forward Repair Ship)

HMS Leeds Castle (Offshore Patrol Vessel)

1982

HMS Torbay (Trafalgar Class Submarine)

3

HMS London (Type 22 Frigate)

HMS Dumbarton Castle (Offshore Patrol Vessel)

1983

HMS Cornwall (Type 22 Frigate)

3

HMS Sheffield (Type 22 Frigate)

HMS Gleaner (Survey Vessel)

1984

HMS Coventry (Type 22 Frigate)

2

HMS Cumberland (Type 22 Frigate)

1985

HMS Trenchant (Trafalgar Class Submarine)

Sir Galahad (Landing Ship Logistic)

7

HMS Campbeltown (Type 22 Frigate)

HMS Norfolk (Type 23 Frigate)

HMS Sandown (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Archer (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Example (Inshore Training Vessel)

1986

HMS Talent (Trafalgar Class Submarine)

Oakleaf (Auxiliary Oiler)

7

HMS Vanguard (Vanguard Class Submarine)

HMS Chatham (Type 22 Frigate)

HMS Roebuck (Survey Vessel)

HMS Bitter (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Smitter (Inshore Training Vessel)

1987

HMS Triumph (Trafalgar Class Submarine)

7

HMS Victorious (Vanguard Class Submarine)

HMS Argyll (Type 23 Frigate)

HMS Inverness (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Cromer (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Walney (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Bridport (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

1988

HMS Lancaster (Type 23 Frigate)

Fort Victoria (Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment)

14

HMS Blazer (Inshore Training Vessel)

Argus (Aviation Training and Primary Casualty Reception Ship)

HMS Puncher (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Charger (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Ranger (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Trumpeter (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Express (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Exploit (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Tracker (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Raider (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Dasher (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Purser (Inshore Training Vessel)

1989

HMS Iron Duke(Type 23 Frigate)

Fort George (Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment)

4

HMS Marlborough (Type 23 Frigate)

HMS Monmouth (Type 23.Frigate)

1990

HMS Montrose (Type 23 Frigate)

3

HMS Westminster (Type 23 Frigate)

HMS Northumberland (Type 23 Frigate)

1991

HMS Vigilant (Vanguard Class Submarine)

3

HMS Richmond (Type 23 Frigate)

HMS Endurance (Antarctic Patrol Ship)

1992

HMS Somerset (Type 23 Frigate)

2

HMS Grafton (Type 23 Frigate)

1993

HMS Vengeance (Vanguard Class Submarine)

3

HMS Sabre (Inshore Training Vessel)

HMS Scimitar (Inshore Training Vessel)

1994

HMS Sutherland (Type 23 Frigate)

9

HMS Ocean (Landing Platform Helicopter)

HMS Bangor (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Blyth (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Grimsby (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Pembroke (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Penzance (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Ramsey (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

HMS Shoreham (Mine Countermeasures Vessel)

1995

—

0

1996

HMS Kent (Type 23 Frigate)

2

HMS Scott (Survey Vessel)

1997

HMS Astute (Astute Class Submarine)—order date

3

HMS Ambush (Astute Class Submarine)—order date

HMS Artful (Astute Class Submarine)—order date

1998

HMS Portland (Type 23 Frigate)

3

HMS St. Albans (Type 23 Frigate)

HMS Albion (Landing Platform Dock)

1999

—

0

2000

HMS Daring (Type 45 Destroyer)—order date

Wave Knight (Auxiliary Oiler)

5

HMS Dauntless (Type 45 Destroyer)—order date

HMS Diamond (Type 45 Destroyer)—order date

HMS Bulwark (Landing Platform Dock)

2001

HMS Tyne (Offshore Patrol Vessel)

Largs Bay (Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary))

3

Wave Ruler (Auxiliary Oiler)

2002

HMS Dragon (Type 45 Destroyer)—order date

Lyme Bay (Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary))

10

HMS Defender (Type 45 Destroyer)—order date

Mounts Bay (Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary))

HMS Duncan (Type 45 Destroyer)—order date

Cardigan Bay (Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary))

HMS Severn (Offshore Patrol Vessel)

HMS Mersey (Offshore Patrol Vessel)

HMS Echo (Survey Vessel)

HMS Enterprise (Survey Vessel)

2003

—

0

2004

—

0

2005

—

0

2006

—

0

2007

HMS Audacious (Astute Class Submarine)—order date

1

2008

HMS Queen Elizabeth (Future carrier)—order date

2

HMS Prince of Wales (Future carrier)—order date
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