Written question asked by Gordon Prentice (Labour) on Thursday, 30 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 July 2005. It was answered by Lord Reid of Cardowan (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 July 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Trident

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the cumulative costs have been of the Trident nuclear deterrent in each year since it became operational;

Answer: The latest annual statement to Parliament about the acquisition cost of the Trident programme was made on 18 January 2005, Official Report, column 30WS.Since the Trident nuclear deterrent became operational in 1994, the annual expenditure for capital and running costs has ranged between 2 and 4 per cent. of the annual defence budget, up to and including financial year 2004–05.Specifically the running costs for financial year 2004–05 were 2 per cent. of the annual defence budget. Royal Navy spending allocated to the Trident nuclear deterrent amounted to 3 per cent. of the financial year 2004–05 Royal Navy spending plan.

Secondary information