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Proliferation in ParliamentBack to Proliferation in Parliament, Winter 2008 Westminster ParliamentNuclear Submarines
Submarines, Written Answers, 17 Dec 2008 : Column 765WDr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when each Trafalgar Class submarine will go out of service. Mr. Quentin Davies: Our present planning assumptions, which are routinely updated as required, are as follows: 17 Dec 2008 : Column 766W
Submarines: Safety, Written Answers, 26 Nov 2008 : Column 1559WMr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to increase the number of nuclear watchkeepers to oversee the safety of the nuclear propulsion units in nuclear powered submarines. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The shortage of nuclear Watchkeepers does not affect nuclear safety. The impact of manpower shortages is considered, among other factors, by the relevant safety committees to ensure that standards are not degraded. Measures taken to address the shortfall of nuclear Watchkeepers include:
financial, with regard to submarine pay; the restructuring of the engineering
branches; modifying career pipelines to deliver suitably trained personnel
earlier in their careers; increased recruiting of submariners and encouraging
transfers of experienced technicians from other engineering branches. Submarines, Written Answers, 19 Nov 2008 : Column 504WDr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the maximum future endurance on station of the Astute-class submarines. Mr. Quentin Davies: Once deployed, Astute can patrol for 90 days and should not require refuelling throughout her full service life of over 25 years. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the crew strength per boat is in terms of (a) officers and (b) men, in respect of the current generation of attack submarines; and what the crew strength will be in respect of each Astute-class submarine; (2) what assessment he has made of the practicability of having two crews for each Astute-class submarine. Mr. Quentin Davies: The manpower liability for an Astute and Trafalgar Class submarine is as follows:
The Astute Class of submarine is and will continue to be manned using
the watch rotational manning system currently employed for Royal Navy
attack submarines. This system allows the required availability of the
submarines to be met while ensuring leave and training periods for all
personnel. Submarines: Safety, Written Answers, 17 Nov 2008 : Column 154WHarry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the safety of fire suppressant gas used in Royal Navy submarines. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: All materials introduced to Royal Navy (RN) submarines, including fire suppressant gases, are subject to a rigorous and robust toxicity assessment process. The design of RN submarine systems is such that any leak would be quickly detected and emergency actions taken, including the use of back up breathing systems, before the atmosphere within the submarine became un-breathable. The fire suppressant gases used in RN submarines are halon 1301, carbon
dioxide and nitrogen. The quantities of halon and carbon dioxide held
onboard are such that, even if the total volume is discharged into the
submarine atmosphere, it remains safe to breathe. Nitrogen is not a toxic
gas, but has the potential to asphyxiate if there is sufficient volume.
The risks associated with nitrogen have, however, been assessed against
the safeguards in system design and mitigating procedures, and are as
low as reasonably practicable. Trafalgar Class Submarines, Written Answers, 17 Nov 2008 : Column 154WDr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what year the final Trafalgar-class submarine will go out of service. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: On present plans, which are routinely updated
as required, the last Trafalgar class submarine to be withdrawn from service
will be HMS Triumph in 2022. Astute Class Submarines, Written Answers, 17 Nov 2008 : Column 140WDr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated (a) completion and (b) in-service date is for each of the planned Astute-class submarines. 17 Nov 2008 : Column 141W Mr. Quentin Davies: The MOD currently plans to procure seven Astute submarines. Four submarines are on contract, and in various stages of production at BAE Systems Submarine Solutions facilities at Barrow-in-Furness. The planned in-service-dates for HMS Astute, the First of Class, Ambush,
Artful and Audacious are subject to continuing detailed review by MOD,
BAE Systems and other key stakeholders. Submarines: Decommissioning, Written Answers, 28 Oct 2008 : Column 814WWillie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in the development of plans for the dismantling and storage of submarines at Plymouth and Rosyth. Mr. Quentin Davies: As stated in the answer of 15 July 2008, Official
Report, column 312W, to the hon. Member for South-West Devon (Mr. Streeter),
the ISOLUS project team continues to take forward technical and siting
issues in conjunction with stakeholder groups, with a technical options
study due to conclude by the end of this year, and the project procurement
strategy being developed within the context of the Defence Industrial
Strategy. The project remains committed to further public consultation
before major decisions are made. Submarines, Written Answers, 20 Oct 2008 : Column 135WDr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the number of attack submarines in service in the Royal Navy in each of the next 10 years. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: On present plans, which are regularly reviewed, the number of Attack submarines in each year is as follows:
From 2011 onwards there will be occasions when we briefly have eight
submarines in service, as the Astute class gradually replaces the Swiftsures
and Trafalgars, but the number will usually be seven. HMS Superb, Written Answers, 1 Sep 2008 : Column 1465WMr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future deployment of HMS Superb. Mr. Bob Ainsworth: HMS Superb will be conducting a series of tests
and trials prior to her planned Decommissioning date in October 2008. Back to Proliferation in Parliament, Winter 2008 © 2009 The Acronym Institute. |