Written question asked by Ian Gibson (Labour) on Monday, 15 January 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 January 2007. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 March 2007 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Trident

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the change in the cost of nuclear decommissioning liabilities which would arise from the replacement of the Vanguard class Trident nuclear submarines; what factors are included in the estimate; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: It is too early to make a reasonable estimate of the nuclear decommissioning liabilities associated with a new class of submarines built to maintain our nuclear deterrent. However, the nuclear liabilities in the Department’s annual report and accounts for 2005-06, HC1394, include a figure of £333 million for all current in-service submarines, including the Vanguard class. More detail on the MOD’s current nuclear decommissioning liabilities is set out in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) on 24 July 2006, Official Report, columns 778-79W.

Secondary information