Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to MOD Government Major Projects Portfolio Data 2022, if he will publish the reason for the £170 million whole-life cost increase for the Protector programme.

The reported £170 million increase to the Protector Whole Life Cost Budget was due to an accounting error which included future capability enhancements of this next-generation remotely piloted air system within the Protector Core programme. All programme enhancements are treated independently of the core Protector Programme and funding maintained separately. The £170 million increase has been removed accordingly.