Trident Submarines (Hansard, 2 February 2004)

§ Angus Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the running costs of the Trident programme have been since it came into service; what the running costs of the Trident programme are in this financial year; and what the total lifetime running costs of the Trident programme are expected to be at the end of its service period. [151703]

§ Mr. Hoon
The combined capital and running costs of Trident, since it was declared operational in 1994, has ranged between 2 per cent. and 4 per cent. of the annual defence budget. The total cost of Trident for financial year 2003–04 is not yet available.
Based on current planning assumptions the costs for its remaining period in service are expected to be between 2 per cent. and 3 per cent. of the expected annual defence budget.

§ Angus Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Trident submarines are on active service; and how many are being repaired. [151595]

§ Mr. Ingram
Three Trident submarines are rotating through the operational cycle. The fourth is undergoing a period of pre-planned long maintenance and refuelling.

§ Angus Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) missiles and (b) warheads are deployed on Trident submarines; and what the approximate yield of the nuclear warheads deployed is. [151596]

§ Mr. Hoon
The UK's Trident submarines can carry up to 16 missiles but normally carry fewer; I am withholding further information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for reasons of national security. The submarine on patrol carries 48 warheads. As for warhead yields, I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for reasons of national security.