To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the United Kingdom is paying the United States Government towards the research and development costs of the Trident D5 missile; how much has already been paid; and how much is outstanding.

The United kingdom has undertaken to pay a fixed, but index-linked, contribution towards the research and development of the Trident II D5 strategic weapon system, including the missile. At current prices, the total contribution will be some $157 million, of which $58 million has been paid.