Mr. Soames: The operating costs of the Polaris fleet in each of the last 15 years at 1995-96 prices are as follows:
| Operating Costs of Polaris Fleet | |
|---|---|
| Financial year | Spend at constant prices #million* |
| 1981-92 | 470 |
| 1982-83 | 472 |
| 1983-84 | 410 |
| 1984-85 | 367 |
| 1985-86 | 383 |
| 1986-87 | 434 |
| 1987-88 | 434 |
| 1988-89 | 373 |
| 1989-90 | 303 |
| 1990-91 | 250 |
| 1991-92 | 183 |
| 1992-93 | 162 |
| 1993-94 | 107 |
| 1994-95 | 67 |
| 1995-96 | 63 |
* All at 1995-96 prices using GDP deflators.
Details of operating costs during the current financial year are in the course of preparation.
The estimated cost for the defuelling, de-equipping and laying-up of the Polaris fleet of submarines is approximately #71 million at 1996-97 prices, over the next ten years. No firm estimate is yet available of the likely cost of eventual disposal.
The cost of decommissioning and scraping Polaris missiles currently totals #8 million. These costs include sums already spent plus values of contracts let. The sum covers missile decommissioning/scrapping costs but excludes warhead disposal.
It is not our practice to reveal costs associated with the warhead.
# = GBP/Pounds Sterling