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Large Aircraft Carriers
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the cost of the two proposed large aircraft carriers separately identifying their (a) running costs and (b) disposal costs. [50391]
Mr. George Robertson: At this early stage in the project, we envisage an acquisition cost for two aircraft carriers of around £2 billion, including combat system and initial support costs but excluding the cost of aircraft. The running costs of future carriers will depend on: the ship design and the number and type of aircraft they will carry, both of which remain to be determined, but which will focus on the need to minimise through-life costs. No consideration has yet been given to the disposal of future carriers given that these vessels are likely to be in-service till around the mid-century.
Strategic Defence Review
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many copies of the Strategic Defence
14 Jul 1998 : Column: 175
Review were sent outside the main building of his Department in sealed envelopes before Wednesday 8 July; and when they were sent; [50459]
Mr. George Robertson:
It is not our practice to comment in detail on matters of this kind while a formal investigation is in progress.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what terms (a) his Department's head of public relations and (b) any of her staff discussed the contents of the Strategic Defence Review before 12.30 pm on Wednesday 8 July, with (a) members of the press and (b) other persons outside his Department. [50457]
Mr. George Robertson:
In her dealings with the Press my Director of Information Strategy and News, and her staff, have responded to all inquiries about the Strategic Defence Review (which have all been from the Press) under the normal terms. Until the Press Conference held on Wednesday 8 July on an embargo, lock-in basis, they provided factual information about the background, processes, and the development of the thinking of the defence review. Such information was also set out by me in two major speeches, the BBC documentary on the processes underlying the Strategic Defence Review, and in answers to the House prior to publication of the White Paper on 8 July.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the name and position of the individual or individuals carrying out the inquiry into the leaking of the Strategic Defence Review; when he expects the inquiry to be concluded; and how he intends to report the conclusions of the inquiry to the House. [50461]
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Mr. George Robertson:
The individual who will conduct the inquiry, by custom, is a member of a panel of investigators which the Cabinet Office draw upon to conduct investigations. Its members are in the main distinguished and senior retired public servants. A member of the panel, who will not be named, has been selected by the Cabinet Office to investigate the leaking of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The inquiry will be conducted with all possible speed. Once the conclusions of the inquiry have been presented to me, I will decide how to report them to the House.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his special advisers, and on what terms, discussed the contents of the Strategic Defence Review before 12.30 pm on Wednesday 8 July, with (a) members of the press, (b) political lobbyists and (c) special advisers to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Foreign Secretary. [50458]
Mr. George Robertson:
In the normal course of government business, both special advisers would have discussed the contents of the Strategic Defence Review with special advisers to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary. Over the course of the Review, both special advisers would have briefed members of the Press and on occasions, political lobbyists on the background processes and emerging themes of the Review but not on its detailed conclusions in line with the requirements of propriety.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to have finalised his work on the future organisation of the TA and the TA and cadet centres in time for them to be presented to the House before the defence debate. [50554]
Dr. Reid:
It is our intention that the detailed planning for the future organisation of the Territorial Army should be complete by the autumn. The results of this work will be announced to the House as soon as possible.
(2) which (a) Government departments, (b) individual Ministers, (c) special advisers and (d) non-Governmental organisations received copies of the Strategic Defence Review before 12.30 pm on Wednesday 8 July. [50460]