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Written question asked by Richard Holden (Conservative) on Friday, 15 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Nuclear Weapons: Procurement

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his position is on the (a) procurement by the UK Government and (b) development by the Atomic Weapons Establishment, of non-ballistic, tactical nuclear weapons, for use in a conflict.

Answer

The UK does not categorise nuclear weapon capabilities as either strategic or sub-strategic/tactical. The UK’s nuclear weapons are intended to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, as well as that of our NATO Allies, rather than serve as a warfighting capability designed to achieve a tactical or battlefield military advantage in a conflict.

The UK will continue to rely on its four nuclear deterrent submarines.

Procuring nuclear weapons from another state would be inconsistent with our legal obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which the UK ratified in 1968. All of the UK’s nuclear weapons are designed, manufactured, maintained and decommissioned by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
1709
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Nuclear weapons Procurement
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk