To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the (a) transport cost in respect of and (b) carbon emissions arising from (i) the arrangements for supply of armaments under his Department's pilot scheme and (ii) the transition to direct delivery of such armaments. (325584)

[holding answer 6 April 2010]: The additional transport costs of the pilot scheme to assess the feasibility of direct delivery of armaments to Ministry of Defence depots to supply Royal Naval vessels is assessed as small in terms of the overall savings achievable, equating to around two vehicles per week.

No estimate has yet been made of the change in carbon emissions which might result from the pilot scheme, or the overall implementation of the improvement programme.