To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Predator unmanned aerial vehicles his Department expects to purchase in the next 12 months; what the cost of these will be; and when they are expected to come into service. (106101)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: We intend to procure two American Predator B unmanned air vehicles which are expected to come into service during late 2007. The total acquisition cost will be in the region of $80 million. Definitive costs will not be known until the US Air Force has formally replied to our request.