§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid in each of the last five years to the US Government to guarantee the servicing of the UK Trident missile stock; and if this money is part of the estimated Trident running costs. [66825]
§ Mr. George RobertsonNo payments have been made to the US specifically to guarantee the servicing of UK Trident missile stock. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 18 November 1998,Official Report, column 633, 166W to his earlier question and to my letter to him of 26 November 1998, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much of the money paid by the UK to the US Government on Trident to be spent during fiscal year 1999 is for items essential to maintain the continued operational availability of the UK Trident system; [67042]
(2) if he will list the items to be purchased from the money authorised recently to be paid to the US Government as the UK share of the fiscal year 1999 Trident procurement programme. [67041]
§ Mr. George RobertsonI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 19 November 1998,Official Report, column 713, and to the letter I sent him on 26 November 1998, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.