Cambridge MP Huppert on Trident Costs 8th November 2010

During defence questions in the House of Commons on the 8th of November 2010 Cambridge MP Julian Huppert asked:

"3. What his most recent estimate is of his Department's likely expenditure on Trident replacement in this Parliament."


The response given was that that the 2006 white paper: "The Future of the UK's Nuclear Deterrent" set out the estimated costs.

PDF: http://www.mod.uk/nr/rdonlyres/ac00dd79-76d6-4fe3-91a1-6a56b03c092f/0/defence...

That states, on page 7:
"Our current estimate is that the procurement costs of the new submarines and associated equipment and infrastructure will be in the region of £15-20 billion (at 2006/07 prices) for a four-boat fleet. The costs will fall principally in the period between 2012 and 2027."

The minister stated the actual costs depended on the decision to be taken on "initial gate" (starting the renewal contract) and promised to report to Parliament after that decision had been taken.

Mr Huppert asked for an assurance that no binding contract would be entered into this Parliament so that a future Parliament could scrap Trident if it decided to do so, at no great expense.

He was told that it was unavoidable that contracts will be placed.

A brief debate on the future of the UK nuclear deterrent ensued, with Conservatives expressing concern that a minority Lib Dem view, to scrap the deterrent, might prevail (via them blackmailing the other parties) in the case of a future hung Parliament.

MP John Woodcock asked how much the current Government's extra delay in deciding to go ahead with Trident renewal had cost and was told that was £1.2-1.4 Billion extra.

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