Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Ministerial Statement of 5 November 2018, HCWS1064 on the Defence Equipment Plan, what proportion of the allocated budget shortfall in the four years from 2018-19 is due to the decision to reprofile the Dreadnought programme and bring forward spending.

On the basis of a review in summer 2017, detailed cost forecasts were developed for procurement and support programmes managed by the Defence Nuclear Organisation. This included the Dreadnought programme where re-profiling provided opportunities to drive out cost and risk later in the programme to ensure it remains on schedule and within its £31 billion estimated cost. I am withholding the specific information requested as its release would prejudice the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence.