asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is expected to be the cost of the new degaussing base to be constructed at Amble; and what is expected to be the number of civilians employed in constructing the base and in running it.

The total cost of providing the fixed degaussing dock at Amble is likely to be about f18 million. The project is still at the planning stage and no more accurate figures can be quoted until it goes to tender next year.The permanent staff will consist of about 36 MOD(Navy) civilian employees. The numbers of civilians engaged in building the dock will be a matter for the contractors, but it is estimated that some 200 to 300 might be employed on a project of this size.