§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of the Trident programme at current prices.
§ Mr. ButlerMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is currently reviewing the estimate of the cost of Trident and expects to make an announcement shortly.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report, on the basis of the current programme for. Trident, the amount of work by type and value which might be available for the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry; and what is, for each calendar year over the next decade, the amount of money involved.
§ Mr. ButlerThe United Kingdom Trident force will consist of four submarines which will be built in the United Kingdom. The cost of the submarines represents approximately one-third of the estimated total cost of Trident. It is not our practice to publish year-by-year cost profiles for projects.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete the placing of the main contracts for the Trident D5 weapon system.
§ Mr. ButlerWe are purchasing the Trident D5 strategic weapon system from the United States of America under the terms of the Polaris sales agreement. Specific orders are placed by the United States authorities on our behalf. In line with normal financial and contractual procedures, we are giving them progressive authority to enter into commitments. Contracts are being placed to ensure timely delivery to meet submarine fitting dates.
§ 34. Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in light of recent currency fluctuations, he will re-estimate the cost of the Trident programme.
§ Mr. HeseltineI refer to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang), for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) and for Leeds, West (Mr. Meadowcroft).
§ 35. Mr. Stottasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Trident budget as a whole will be spent in the United States of America; and what proportion of the submarines will be built in the United States of America.
§ 39. Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Trident budget as a whole will be spent in the United States of America; and what proportion of the submarines will be built in the United States of America.
§ Mr. ButlerI refer to the answer given earlier by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) and for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd). About 45 per cent. of the estimated total cost is expected to be spent in the United States. The four Trident class submarines will be built in the United Kingdom. A relatively small proportion of their estimated cost represents dollar expenditure.
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§ 36. Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the development of anti-ballistic missile defence systems in space has implications for the Trident missile.
§ Mr. HeseltineWe are satisfied that the Trident II (D5) missile system will provide us with the most cost-effective means of ensuring the credibility of our national strategic nuclear deterrent, well beyond the turn of the century.
§ 37. Mr. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has considered the recent fluctuations in the value of the £ sterling in assessing the cost of Trident; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineI refer to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang), for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) and for Leeds, West (Mr. Meadowcroft). $1.38 is the rate being used by my Department for this year's recosting of the defence programme, reflecting the long held convention of using the exchange rate current at the end of June preceding the financial year in question. Expenditure on Trident is currently at a comparatively low level. What matters chiefly is the exchange rate when Trident expenditure begins to peak at the end of the decade.
§ 42. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current level of expenditure on the Trident programme.
§ Mr. HeseltineI refer to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang), for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) and for Leeds, West (Mr. Meadowcroft). About £300 million has been spent on the Trident programme to date.
§ 50. Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether expenditure on Trident will have any effect on the currently planned in-service dates for (a) EH 101, (b) MCV 80, (c) AST 404, (d) Type 23 frigate, and (e) AST 412.
§ Mr. ButlerThe in-service dates currently assumed for planning purposes for the equipments listed will not be affected by planned expenditure on Trident.