Written question asked by Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party) on Friday, 4 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 March 2005. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Thursday, 10 March 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether arrangements are in place for the transfer of command and control functions for the Trident nuclear system to (a) the Australian government and (b) the US Administration in the event of a nuclear attack on the UK which leads to (i) loss of communication with and (ii) the destruction of the UK Government.

Answer: Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether arrangements are in place for the transfer of command and control functions for the Trident nuclear system to (a) the Australian Government and (b) the US Administration in the event of a nuclear attack on the UK which leads to (i) loss of communication with and (ii) the destruction of the UK Government. [221030] Mr. Hoon: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in the answer he gave on 28 January 2003, Official Report, column 774W, to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Marsden), the use of the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons may be ordered only by the Prime Minister. It would not be in the interests of national security to comment further on command and control arrangements for the nuclear deterrent.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 431 c1997W;431 c1989W; 221030
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Deployment Australia Government Nuclear weapons USA Trident Trident missiles Command and control
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk