asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is now his estimate of the likely total cost of the Polaris submarine programme and its support costs compared with the cost that was stated when the project was first announced in Parliament.

£370 million and £350 million, respectively.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his estimate is for four Polaris submarines and that the estimate given by the Conservative Government was £400 million? Can he say which was too high and which was too low?

My hon. Friend will have noticed that there is an increase of £20 million, but now included is the cost of the Royal Naval Polaris School, the new floating dock, the modular repair facility and some spares.