§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the evidence upon which he based his assessment of the number of tank regiments that could be maintained if Trident expenditure was switched to conventional defence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyOur assessment is that over 20 years the cost of maintaining one armoured division (including the98W capital costs over that period of necessary re-equipment) would be some £8.9 billion compared to the costs of buying Trident over its 20 year procurement period of £9.9 billion both at average 1985–86 prices. The costs quoted are based on the largest existing armoured division which is assumed to be equipped to current average standards initially. They exclude therefore any additional captial costs of equipping a division from new and of providing land and buildings to accommodate the servicemen concerned and their families.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest estimated lifetime running costs of the Trident submarines.
§ Mr. StanleyThe running costs of Trident should not be significantly different from those for our existing Polaris force. We estimate that at their peak, Trident running costs will amount to some £220 million per annum (at 1985/86 prices) which represents approximately 1.2 per cent. of the current value of the Defence Budget.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the Trident project to the nearest convenient date.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonTo the end of December 1986, some £820 million had been spent on the Trident project. £2,750 million has been contractually committed.