30 Jun 2010: Column 556W

Astute Class Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons there have been changes to the previously announced timescale for the Astute-class submarine programme. [4598]

Peter Luff: There are two main reasons for the changes that have been made to timetable for the delivery of the Astute class submarines. First, delays to boat one have been caused by technical issues, which are not uncommon on first of class vessels. These have been exacerbated by the need to re-establish the UK's nuclear submarine design, build, testing and commissioning capability following a ten year gap since the delivery of the last submarine and 17 years since the last first of class, HMS VANGUARD. The second reason was a conscious decision of the previous Government to slow down the production of boats two to seven in response to in-year budgetary pressures.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change there has been in the budget allocated to the Astute-class submarine programme since its inception. [4669]

Peter Luff: The National Audit Office's Major Projects Report (MPR) 2009, HC 85-1, 2009-10, dated 15 December 2009 records that the procurement cost was originally approved in 1997 at £2,578 million for three boats, Batch 1. The report also records that the equivalent cost has, since 1997, increased by £1,355 million, to £3,933 million.

MPR 2009 also records that the boat four procurement cost was approved in 2007 at £1,610 million, and that this has since reduced by £21 million to £1,589 million.

There are no equivalent approved procurement costs for boats five to seven, so it is not possible to make any cost comparisons.

Similar cost estimates are being developed to inform MPR 2010.