Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 28 June 2006 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Engagements

Question: In his speech, the Chancellor repeated what was in Labour’s manifesto, but he went around briefing something completely different. The BBC’s political editor said that he wished the Chancellor ““would use code and spin less and speak in plain English a little more. Then we could focus on the real debate.”” One of the things that the Chancellor said was that there should be a vote. So will the Prime Minister tell us, in plain English: will the House of Commons have a vote on whether Trident is replaced?

Answer: My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House dealt with this during business questions last week. He said, rightly, that we will of course consult the House fully. The method of doing so will be announced at the time when we publish the White Paper. I can assure the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) that there will of course be the fullest possible debate, as there would have to be. I am rather surprised that the right hon. Gentleman does not want to debate today the policy he announced yesterday on the Bill of Rights. Since we are having a debate, at long last, on policy, I thought he might want to debate one of his.

Secondary information