§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the next stage of the Watchkeeper programme to be completed; and if he expects the programme to remain within the estimated budget. [104334]
§ Mr. IngramThe next stage of the Watchkeeper programme, the Systems Integration and Assurance Phase, is estimated to be completed before the end of January 2004. One of the outputs of this phase will be to refine the level of funding required to procure the Watchkeeper capability. We currently expect the programme to remain affordable.