Written question asked by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 July 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 July 2011. It was answered by Peter Luff (Conservative) on Monday, 18 July 2011 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Type 42 Destroyer

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs to his Department are of maintaining the Type 42 Destroyer fleet beyond its intended service life until the delivery of the Type 45 Destroyer.

Answer: The cost of extending the Type 42 Destroyer fleet lifespan beyond its intended service life to coincide with the delivery of the six Type 45 Destroyers is estimated to be £195 million. This includes deep maintenance, planned maintenance, unplanned maintenance, manpower, spares and equipment.As confirmed by the National Audit Office in their 2009 report: Providing Anti-Air Warfare Capability: the type 45 Destroyer, this is not an additional cost to the Department because operating costs would have been incurred for the Type 45 destroyers if they had been delivered to their original timescales.

Secondary information