§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current forecast is for(a) the in-service date and (b) the final cost of the contract to provide new tanker aircraft; what the original projections were; and if he will make a statement. [183313]
§ Mr. IngramThe Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) project is currently in its Assessment Phase and does not have a formally approved in-service date (ISD). At the commencement of the Assessment Phase, ISD was broadly forecast to fall in the period 2007–09. We now believe it will be achieved later than this, but endorsement of a firm planning date for ISD is subject to the outcome of negotiations with industry. The maximum whole life cost of the FSTA programme is currently estimated to be £13.1 billion, at Outturn prices, which compares to an estimate of £13.9 billion at the commencement of the Assessment Phase.