HC Deb 26 October 1998 vol 318 c20W
Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 July 1998,Official Report, column 453, how much, in net real terms, the UK will pay the USA for nuclear spares and services which it will not need or cannot use. [55799]

Mr. George Robertson

The net amount the UK will pay the US for nuclear spares and services we do not now require will depend on the quantity of Trident Missile components that the US buy back in future years. As I said in July, we expect it to amount to some £40 million. Over half of this results from commitments made before this Government took office. The decision is, however, expected to save in the region of £50 million.

A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding covering the arrangement with the US for the buy back of Missile components has been placed in the Library of the House.