§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates have been made of the running costs of servicing British Trident missiles at Kings Bay over and above the capital cost during the lifetime of Trident's operation; and if this has been included in the total cost estimate of Trident.
§ Mr. ButlerThe current Trident estimate of £9,285 million represents the forecast capital cost of acquiring Trident and excludes running costs. Trident is not due to enter service until the mid-1990s, and, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State told the House on 24 July 1984 at column 807 the running costs of the Trident force must remain to some extent speculative, although they are expected to account for about 1½ per cent. of the defence budget each year. Of this sum, the cost of processing missiles at Kings Bay is expected to represent a very small proportion. The United Kingdom capital contribution to facilities at Kings Bay, as I told the hon. Member on 13 February 1985 at column199, is $70 million in fiscal year 1983 dollars.