Written question asked by Ann Cryer (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 December 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 January 2002. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 January 2002 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the nature, timescale and cost of repairing the defect which was discovered on HMS Sceptre, HMS Sovereign and HMS Superb.

Answer: Mrs. Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature, time scale and cost of repairing the defect which was discovered on HMS Sceptre, HMS Sovereign and HMS Superb. [24913] Mr. Ingram: Indications of small original fabrication imperfections discovered during routine ultrasonic inspection of the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) in HMS Sceptre identified the need for more detailed analysis to support the existing safety case for reactor plant operation. Inspection of Sceptre will be undertaken as part of her refit at Rosyth Dockyard. While imperfections have not been identified in either Sovereign or Superb, they have similar Reactor Pressure Vessel design. An acceptable safety case was produced for Superb and she has now returned to operations, pending further inspection later this year. Precautionary inspection of Sovereign is now taking place during her on-going maintenance at Clyde Submarine Base. The time scale and cost of work to return Sceptre and Sovereign to operations is subject to acceptable inspection results and the complexity of the associated safety case, so cannot be provided with accuracy at this stage.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 377 c821-2W;377 c824-6W; 24913
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Costs Safety Repairs and maintenance Shipbuilding Nuclear submarines Submarines Nuclear reactors HMS Sceptre HMS Sovereign HMS Superb
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk