To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the refit of HMS Vanguard; and over what periods the costs were included in the expenditure accounts. (104293)

[holding answer 29 November 2006]: The cost of HMS Vanguard’s long overhaul period (refuel), formerly referred to as a refit, up to the end of the last financial year, is shown in the following table.

The costs have been rounded to the nearest £1 million and include planning work generic to the class as a whole.

No further costs are anticipated, although a refund of some £6 million is anticipated in this financial year in accordance with the target cost incentive fee arrangement.