Trident (Hansard, 25 November 1987)

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding tests by the United States Administration on a 12 warhead Trident missile; and what are the implications for the Trident missile refurbishment package in regard to the United Kingdom's deterrent.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
It would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific aspects of the Trident missile test programme being carried out by the United States. I can nevertheless assure the hon. Member that we remain in close touch with the United States Government about the Trident II system which the United Kingdom is purchasing from the United States and I am fully satisfied that the United Kingdom's requirements continue to be met.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a detailed breakdown of the costs of the Trident missile purchase agreement showing separately the cost of storing, maintaining and refitting replacement missiles as part of the package described in the debate in the House on 22 October,Official Report, columns 949–962.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
The cost of information is not broken down into the categories requested by the hon. Member. However, I can advise that under the missile processing agreement announced in 1982 the United Kingdom will pay $70 million as a contribution to the capital cost of jointly used facilities at King's bay and will meet the full cost of any additional construction investment costs at King's bay occasioned solely by United Kingdom missile processing. These costs have been taken into account in calculating the saving of £767 million arising from the decision to process missiles at King's bay.
The United Kingdom will be charged a percentage of the total King's bay running costs related to the United Kingdom share of the missile processing work load.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why he will not release information on the estimated proportion of the development and production costs of the warhead element of the Trident programme, attributable to (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the United States of America.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on 2 November at column607.