To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) what assessment has been made of the through-life cost of powering the new aircraft carriers with (a) conventional gas turbine/diesel engines and (b) nuclear reactor plants;

(2) what studies his Department has undertaken on suitability of nuclear reactor power for the new aircraft carriers.

The through-life cost of powering the Future Aircraft Carriers with a combination of conventional gas turbines and diesel engines was considered during the assessment and demonstration phases of the project and selected as the preferred option for manufacture. On nuclear reactor plants, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 11 June 2008, Hansard, column 255W, and on 25 June 2008, Hansard, column 304W, to Mr. Hancock.