§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual budget for the Eurofighter from 1997–98 to 2002–03. [51757]
§ Mr. SpellarUp to 31 March 1998 the UK's expenditure on the Eurofighter programme totalled some £3 billion. Future UK procurement expenditure is currently estimated at £12.9 billion. Figures are at average 1997–98 prices.
Year-on-year spending forecasts for particular projects constitute projections and assumptions which inform advice to Ministers on the affordability of the defence programme. I am, therefore, withholding this information under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.