Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the a) cost to date and b) planned final cost of the Tempest Combat Air Flying Demonstrator programme.

Due to commercial sensitivities, I am unable to provide these figures. It would also be inappropriate to disclose them given considerations relating to our GCAP partnerships. This investment is funding regeneration of UK industrial capabilities, facilities and skills which will provide a significant return through savings in GCAP and wider UK combat air programmes.