Defence written question – answered at on 1 December 2010.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of making alternative arrangements for (a) protection of the carrier fleet and (b) provision of strategic deterrent against submarines compared to the cost of retaining the Nimrod MRA4; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what assessment he has made of the consequences for (a) intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance support, (b) maritime protection and (c) search and rescue capability in respect of (i) protection of merchant shipping and (ii) protection of coastal waters following the decision to cease the use of Nimrod MRA4 aircraft; what estimate he has made of changes to the cost to the public purse in the provision of such services as a result; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what assessment he has made of the cost to his Department of C130 and C130K aircraft as a replacement for the Nimrod MRA4 for (a) intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, (b) maritime protection and (c) search and rescue; and if he will make a statement.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on
The UK's requirement for Anti-Submarine Warfare and intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability was assessed during the Strategic Defence and Security Review and will be kept under regular review. I can confirm that we have judged the implications of the decision not to bring the Nimrod MRA4 into service to be acceptable. We are in the process of developing a longer-term plan to mitigate the impact of cancellation on our continuing military tasks and capabilities. This will include an assessment of costs.
Yes1 person thinks so
No2 people think not
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