§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the annual running costs of an operational (i) Polaris class submarine, (ii) Trafalgar class submarine, (iii) Swiftsure class submarine and (iv) Valiant/Churchill class submarine; and what is the anticipated annual running cost of a Trident class submarine; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertThe average annual operating costs at 1988–89 prices of Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines are:
£ million Polaris 11.7 Fleet 4.4 Figures for individual classes of fleet submarine could not be provided without disproportionate cost.
These costs include personnel, petrol, oil and lubricants, spares and so on, as well as administrative support services, but exclude capital equipment and refit/repair costs.
It is too early to say with any precision what the likely running costs of the Trident force will be. They are not, however, expected to be significantly different from those of Polaris.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the annual running costs of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at(a) Burghfield, (b) Aldermaston, (c) Foulness, (d) Winfrith, (e) Llanishen, (f) Harwell, (g) Springfields, (h) Capenhurst, (i) Calder Hall, (j) Sellafield and (k) Capelcross, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertIt would not be in the national interest to disclose this information for the four sites of the atomic weapons establishment: Aldermaston, Burghfield, Cardiff (Llanishen), and Foulness. The other locations to which the hon. Member refers are not a matter for the Ministry of Defence.