Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the potential cost of procuring (a) 12, (b) 32 and (c) 48 Trident II D5 missile tubes for the Successor submarines.

The missile tubes for the Successor Programme are being procured as part of the collaborative Common Missile Compartment (CMC) project with the US. General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded an $83.8 million contract modification by the US Department of Defense to continue development of the CMC.

The contract provides funding for 17 missile tubes; four for the US submarine programme, one for a US shore test facility and 12 missile tubes for the Successor Programme. The 12 UK missile tubes’ share of this contract is estimated at $59 million. Costs beyond the first 17 tubes have yet to be agreed, and it would prejudice commercial interests to estimate costs at this stage. The Ministry of Defence is not planning to commit to further missile tubes prior to Main Gate in 2016.