HC Deb 25 March 1999 vol 328 cc332-3W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current forecast(a) in-service date for and (b) cost of (i) the Brimstone and (ii) the Storm Shadow programmes; and what was the forecast in each case at the time that the contract was placed. [77262]

Mr. Spellar

The in-service dates for the Brimstone and Storm Shadow programmes remain the same as those forecast at the time the contracts were placed, namely October and December 2001 respectively.

The forecast programme cost for Brimstone was £783 million compared with a current estimate of £793 million. The forecast programme cost for Storm Shadow was £858 million compared with a current estimate of £878 million.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the work for the(a) Brimstone and (b) Storm Shadow programmes is being placed with UK registered companies; and what was the forecast proportion when the contract was placed. [77263]

Mr. Spellar

At the time the Brimstone contract was negotiated, the proportion of work by value, expected to be placed with UK registered companies was some 63 per cent. There has been no significant change in this percentage since placement of the contract.

When the Storm Shadow contract was placed, it was envisaged that in excess of 70 per cent. of work would be placed with UK registered companies. Matra BAe Dynamics have to date placed 85 per cent. of work by value; of which 80 per cent. has been placed in the UK.