HC Deb 13 March 1984 vol 56 cc124-5W
22. Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of the Trident prograrnme as a percentage of the overall defence procurement budget.

Mr. Heseltine

The Trident programme will cost about 6 per cent. of the defence equipment budget over the period during which it will be introduced into service.

25. Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he last had discussions with his counterpart in the United States of America about the Trident D5 missile system.

Mr. Heseltine

I have frequent meetings with the United States Secretary of Defence, during which a wide range of issues of mutual interest are discussed. Our most recent meeting was on 28 February this year.

28. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is yet able to give an up-to-date estimate of the cost of the Trident nuclear weapon.

Mr. Heseltine

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to his hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark).

33. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, H.C.287, on the Trident project.

Mr. Pattie

The Public Accounts Committee will be questioning the Chief of Defence Procurement on the report later this month. It would not be appropriate to comment in advance of the hearings.