§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of(a) the percentage effect on the unit cost of Trident D5 missiles and (b) the effect on the overall cost of the Trident programme to the United Kingdom, as a result of the decision by the United States Department of Defense to cut back the projected number of Trident submarines.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIt is not our practice to publish unit production costs for equipment purchased by the Ministry of Defence. As regards the overall cost of the Trident programme, I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 12 February at column383.