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Astute Class Submarines

Volume 457: debated on Wednesday 7 March 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his timetable is for a decision on whether to order Astute class SSN boat 4. (124585)

Three Astute Class submarines are on order with BAE Systems (Submarine Solutions), and further boat orders are currently being considered, subject to affordability. We are working with Industry as part of the Defence Industrial Strategy to achieve an affordable and sustainable submarine programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost of Astute class SSN (a) boat 1, (b) boat 2 and (c) boat 3 is; and what the original expected costs were. (124586)

The contract with BAE Systems is for the design and manufacture of three Astute Class submarines. The NAO’s Major Project Report for 2006 reported an expected total cost of £3,656 million against a recosted approval of £2,578 million.