§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has at any time ordered a review of the total number of Trident submarines planned for construction by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButlerThe decision to opt for a four boat Trident force was announced by the previous Secretary of State for Defence on 11 March 1982 at column 975. Four submarines are the minimum needed to sustain without fail at least one always on patrol.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has at any time ordered a review of the total quantity of nuclear warheads planned to be fitted to British Trident D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyI refer the hon. Member to the statement in paragraph 30 of "Defence Open Government" document 82/1.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the estimated annual percentage of the total Trident submarine budget that is expected to be spent with the private sector of British industry for the years ending April 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995.
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§ Mr. ButlerNo such estimates are made. Contractors for the Trident programme have been and will continue to be selected on merit and there is no policy of preference to either public or private sector industry. Overall it is expected that 55 per cent. of the total estimated cost of £9,285 million for Trident announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence in January will be spent in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the total planned annual expenditure on the Trident submarine programme at 1985 prices for the years ending April 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995.
§ Mr. ButlerI have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 21 June 1985, column247. It is not the practice to give forecasts of cost profiles for projects on a year by year basis.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he intends to use in deciding whether all 16 missile tubes on each Trident submarine will be loaded with missiles with nuclear warheads when Trident is operational; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyThis will depend on a number of factors, including the capabilities of Soviet defensive systems, and bearing in mind the need to pose a potential threat to key aspects of Soviet state power.