§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Defence what inflation rates were assumed (a) for the United Kingdom and(b) for the United States of America in the Trident cost estimates published in (i) March 1982, (ii) March 1984 and (iii) January 1985.
§ Mr. ButlerThe estimates to which the hon. Member refers were all expressed at constant prices and made no assumptions regarding future inflation. Between the March 1982 estimate of 7,500 million (at September 1981 prices) and the current estimate of £9,285 million (at average prices for the 1984–85 financial year) price levels in the United States and United Kingdom on Trident have increased on average by 18.8 per cent. and 17.2 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum number of warheads which each Trident D5 missile will be designed to carry.
§ Mr. StanleyThe design payload of the Trident D5 missile system is classified, although it was stated in defence open government document 82/1 that the missile was expected to be able to carry up to 14 warheads, which is the limit for SLBMs under the terms of the SALT II treaty. We have made it clear that the United Kingdom move to Trident D5 will not involve any significant change in the planned total number of warheads associated with our strategic deterrent force in comparison with the original intentions for a force deploying the Trident C4 missile system.