§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the SP70 155 mm self-propelled howitzer was originally due to enter service; what is the reason for the delay; and how much the programme is over the original budget.
§ Mr. LeeThe SP70 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, a collaborative project involving the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, was originally due to enter service around the beginning of the 1980s. The slippage in the development programme predominantly reflects design changes needed for the equipment to meet the demanding operational requirements. To date the United Kingdom's costs in real terms are just under 50 per cent. above the estimate made when the phase B development began around the end of 1977.