HC Deb 23 March 1982 vol 20 cc317-8W
24. Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the purchase of Trident D5 would have on the proportion of the United Kingdom defence budget allocated to conventional arms; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Blaker

The purchase of Trident D5 will absorb on average around 3 per cent. of the defence budget over the period during which it is being procured. The real growth of 3 per cent. a year in the defence budget until 1985–86 which forms the basis of future defence planning means that it will be possible not only to fund Trident but to provide several billion pounds more investment in our conventional forces than would otherwise have been possible.

25. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the costs of the Trident programme; and how this compares with his initial estimate.

33. Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is yet able to estimate the relative cost to the United Kingdom of the Trident D5 programme as opposed to the Trident C5 project.

Mr. Blaker

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher).

26. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, separately from the purchase cost, he will make an approximate estimate of the cost of maintaining repairing, fuelling and manning Trident submarines and missiles over a 15 year period.

Mr. Blaker

At this early stage in our planning we anticipate that the running costs of the Trident force will be of the same order as those for Polaris, amounting to around 1.5 per cent. of the defence budget each year.

42. Mr. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the United Kingdom's annual defence budget will be spent on Trident.

Mr. Blaker

We estimate that the Trident D5 programme will cost on average around 3 per cent. of the defence budget over the period during which it will be introduced into service. Once Trident is in service that proportion will reduce to about 1½ per cent. of the defence budget per year.