§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Eurofighters are being purchased for the RAF and at what cost; and how many are being purchased by other NATO countries.[88961]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 29 June 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 6 July 1999:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of Eurofighters being purchased for the RAF and by other NATO countries and the cost to the UK. The matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.The 4 Eurofighter Partner Nations are procuring 620 aircraft: 232 for the UK; 180 for Germany; 121 for Italy and 87 for Spain. Production contracts for the first tranche of 148 aircraft, 55 of which are for the UK, were placed in September 1998.The total procurement cost of the Eurofighter programme to the UK is estimated at £16.1 Billion at current prices.