§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 May,Official Report, columns 81–82, if he will explain the differences between his answer and the evidence given to the Defence Committee on the annual operation and maintenance costs of Polaris on 30 January 1985, HC 37 (1984–85), p. 159, Q 935; and what items are included in the figure given in the evidence.
§ Mr. HanleyThe figures given in the answer of my right hon. Friend the member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton) of 17 May (Official Report, columns 81–82) represent the best available estimate of the average annual operating cost of the Polaris system in the individual years 1991–92 and 1992–93. Figures given to the Defence Select Committee in 1985 are likely to have covered similar items, but were derived from a defence-wide cost-attribution system which is no longer in use. This system was largely reliant on contemporary judgments on the attribution of costs which were refined over time. It would not be possible to carry out a more detailed examination of the basis for the figures given in 1985 without incurring disproportionate cost.