§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many current defence projects not separately notified to Parliament are estimated to exceed on completion (a) £50 million and (b) £250 million; and what is the total estimated cost of these projects.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe 1987 major project statement for equipment now in preparation will include all the 38 current defence projects with approved expenditure in excess of £250 million—£200 million for certain projects; the estimated total value of approved work shown is expected to be some £42 billion at average 1987–88 outturn prices. The information in respect of projects exceeding £50 million is not readily available in the form sought. But the first defence equipment project report which will be submitted to the House of Commons Defence Committee next year and which will list projects estimated to cost £25 million or more for development or £50 million or more for production, is expected to add approximately 60 projects to those which feature in the major project statement.