To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on appointing an officer to be in command of more than one nuclear-powered submarine while in refit; and if he will make a statement.
In each yard it is established practice to appoint a commander (submarines) as the senior officer submarines (refitting) who carries out the duties of commanding officer of all submarines in deep refit in that yard until commanding officers are appointed to individual submarines as they near completion.
The duties of the senior officer submarines (refitting) are primarily to command the refit crews and ensure reactor safety of those submarines which are in deep refit. The appointment of one officer to command all submarines in deep refit in that yard is considered and proven to be entirely appropriate.