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Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 January 2013, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 January 2013. It was answered by Philip Dunne (Conservative) on Monday, 14 January 2013 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Trident

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the report, Trident Alternatives Review and the future of Barrow, published in December 2012 by the Nuclear Education Trust.

[136542]

Answer

None. The BAE Systems shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness is the only facility in the UK that can build nuclear submarines, and the Government's policy remains as set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, that we will maintain a continuous submarine-based deterrent and will begin the work of replacing the Vanguard class submarines. The Ministry of Defence is therefore continuing work on the assessment phase of the Successor submarine programme, to inform a Main Gate decision in 2016. In order to help the Liberal Democrats consider the case for alternatives, the Cabinet Office is leading a review into whether there are alternative systems and postures that could maintain a credible deterrent. That review is being overseen by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander).


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
136542; 556 c601W
Session
2012-13
Subjects
Trident
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk