To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the total cost of the British nuclear deterrent over the next four years. [16797]

The total procurement cost for Trident is estimated to be £12.6 billion. Average running costs have been estimated at £200 million a year over the 30 year lifetime of the system. We are examining the basis upon which cost estimates have been calculated in the light of operating experience as part of the wider Strategic Defence Review.