§ 28. Sir John Farrasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the proportion of British-made content in the Trident programme.
§ Mr. Norman LamontApproximately 55 per cent. or over £5,100 million by value of the total estimated cost of Trident (£9,285 million at 1984–85 prices and at £1 =S1.38) is planned to be spent in the United Kingdom. In addition, there are a number of British companies competing for work on the United States Trident H programme. To date, 128 contracts (at a value of some $38 million) have been placed with 50 United Kingdom firms. Many of these sub-contracts are for initial quantities with the potential for follow-on orders.
§ 32. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete development of the Trident missile programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe development of the United Kingdom Trident system is planned to be completed to enable it to be deployed in the mid-1990s.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the current cost of Trident and the proportion it will take up of the defence budget; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerMy predecessor announced an estimate of the cost of Trident of £9,285 million at 1984–85 prices and at an exchange rate of £1 = $1.38 on 29 January 1985. Over its procurement period, Trident is expected to absorb about 3 per cent. of the defence budget.