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Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Monday, 1 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 November 2010. It was answered by Liam Fox (Conservative) on Monday, 15 November 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Nuclear Weapons: Finance

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department has incurred on the Nuclear Weapons Capability Sustainment Programme in each year since the programme's inception; and what estimate he has made of such expenditure in each remaining year of the programme.
Answer

The Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme (NWCSP) began in 2005 following the announcement by the then Secretary of State for Defence on 19 July 2005, Official Report, column 59WS, of increased funding to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).Expenditure since 2005-06, and the provisional figure for the current financial year is as follows:

£ million at outturn prices
2005-06 493
2006-07 687
2007-08 894
2008-09 800
2009-10 870
2010-11 ¹932
¹ Provisional

Since 1 April 2008, financial planning for AWE has made no distinction between management and operation costs and those associated with the NWCSP.Future planned expenditure at AWE will be subject to cost savings measures identified in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). Release of further detail may prejudice the Ministry of Defence's negotiating position with its commercial suppliers and final savings figures will depend on detailed SDSR-related implementation. The MOD is therefore not prepared to release further financial information at this time.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
21972; 518 c563W
Session
2010-12
Subjects
Finance Nuclear warhead capability sustainment programme
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk