Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life cost of the Skynet 6 programme (a) was originally and (b) is as of 13 October 2023.

With regards to the original projected whole life cost of the SKYNET 6 programme, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by my predecessor (Alec Shelbrooke) on 22 September 2022to Question 49567.

Portfolio data is published annually in support of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Annual Report which includes a budget baseline and the latest HM Treasury approved estimates in respect of whole life costs. The reports are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data. The financial data for Skynet in the IPA report is withheld under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests).