§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the total cost of the four boat Trident fleet. [4839]
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§ Dr. ReidThe latest estimate of the total acquisition cost of the Trident programme is £12.57 billion at 1996–97 economic conditions. This is over £3.6 billion less in real terms than the original 1982 estimate. Operating costs are estimated to be some £200 million per annum over a 30-year in-service life.