HC Deb 24 June 1997 vol 296 c425W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what were the capital and running costs of the Polaris fleet in each year from 1967; [4837]

(2) what was the annual running and maintenance cost in each year when the four boat Polaris fleet was fully operational. [4838]

Dr. Reid

Full details of capital and running costs for the Polaris fleet over the 30-year period in question are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on Polaris running costs for the years 1980–81 to 1996–97 at historic prices are as follows:

Financial year Spend at historic prices £ million
1980–81 162
1981–82 238
1982–83 256
1983–84 233
1984–85 219
1985–86 241
1986–87 281
1987–88 296
1988–89 271
1989–90 236
1990–91 210
1991–92 164
1992–93 151
1993–94 103
1994–95 65
1995–96 67
1996–97 (estimated) 53