To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated annual maintenance cost of the Trident weapons system is expected to be in (a) 2007-08 and (b) each year until 2024. (169443)

The annual expenditure for capital and running costs of the current Trident nuclear deterrent, including costs for the Atomic Weapons Establishment, is expected to be around £1,500 million in 2007-08 and 2008-09, some 5 per cent. of the defence budget, and around £1,700 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11, some 5¼ per cent. of the defence budget. Spending plans for subsequent years will be set as part of the Government's spending review process.