Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made towards meeting the assumed savings in the (a) Complex Weapons Programme and (b) Submarine Enterprise Performance programme; and how much has been saved through each such programme to date.

The Complex Weapons Programme is on track to deliver significant cost benefits, providing greater flexibility and responsiveness to changing requirements, and supporting the industrial skills and capabilities needed to deliver Operational Advantage and Freedom of Action. Financial benefits of £196 million have so far been achieved against a forecast of £1.2 billion.

The Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme is also making good progress, with the signature of two of the three Foundation Contracts, the establishment of a robust benefits delivery and audit process, and the formation of the Submarine Portfolio Office providing a coherent joint programming function across the Enterprise. Financial benefits of £356 million have so far been achieved against a forecast of £900 million.