HC Deb 25 July 1989 vol 157 c679W
Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will state the reasons for the increases in project cost and the extension of the period of peak expenditure for the type 23 frigates, set out in the major equipment projects tables in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989" and the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988";

(2) what are the reasons for the increase in project cost for the GWS26 Mod 1 vertical launch Sea Wolf missile system, set out in the major equipment projects tables in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989" and the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988".

Mr. Sainsbury

The Statement on the Defence Estimates tables show the cost and peak expenditure periods of projects on order or in clear prospect at the time the information was compiled. The Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989 therefore takes into account a larger number of type 23 frigates and VLSW missile systems than that in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the increase in expenditure between 1988–89 and 1989–90 in the category "Extramural research: Overseas", set out in table 3.3 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989" volume two.

Mr. Sainsbury

The difference between the 1988–89 and 1989–90 Estimates in the overseas category of extramural research in table 3.3 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989, volume (Cm 675-II) arises principally from the payment through Defence Votes of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European trans-sonic wind tunnel (ETW) which has now entered the construction phase.

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