Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2015 to Question 17136, what his Department's original estimate was for the development and delivery of Watchkeeper to full operating capability.

Watchkeeper is expected to achieve full operating capability in the second quarter of 2017.

The original cost estimate for the development and delivery of Watchkeeper to full operating capability, at the time of Main Gate approval in 2005, was £847 million.

With regards to the cost of each Watchkeeper, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 October 2014 to question 211342 to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).