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2008-09 (427)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to (a) participate in the US Navy Conventional Trident Modification programme and (b) equip Trident missiles with conventional warheads.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to (a) participate in the US Navy Conventional Trident Modification programme and (b) equip Trident missiles with conventional warheads.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
4 November 2009
For answer on
9 November 2009
Answered on
9 November 2009
The UK has no plans to arm its Trident missiles with conventional warheads or to participate in the United States' Conventional Trident Modification programme.
Subjects
Trident
Date
9 November 2009
Reference
499 c47-8W; 298617
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the design of the next generation of the nuclear deterrent; what schedule has been prepared for its development and introduction into service; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the design of the next generation of the nuclear deterrent; what schedule has been prepared for its development and introduction into service; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Julian Lewis
(Conservative)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
27 October 2009
For answer on
3 November 2009
Answered on
5 November 2009
[holding answer 3 November 2009]: Work on the Concept Phase for the future deterrent programme is progressing well. The Defence Board will be considering this work later this year. As we have previously said, we will update Parliament after the Concept Phase has been completed. We are currently planning on an In Service Date of 2024.
Subjects
Trident
Date
5 November 2009
Reference
498 c1158W; 296940
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make the initial gate decision on the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system; and what immediate costs are associated with initiation of the project.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make the initial gate decision on the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system; and what immediate costs are associated with initiation of the project.
Asked by
Angus Robertson
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 October 2009
For answer on
22 October 2009
Answered on
29 October 2009
The Defence Board will consider the work required during the Concept Phase later this year.Work on replacing our deterrent submarines was initiated on April 2007 with the start of the project's Concept Phase. Since the beginning of April 2007 to the end of September 2009 some £320 million has been spent. The Initial Gate decision marks the end of the Concept Phase. The final spend on reaching Initial Gate cannot be calculated until after that point is reached.Until Initial Gate decisions are made it is too early to say what the likely expenditure will be for the period between that time and the Main Gate decision point, which is when the principal contracts with industry will be signed.
Subjects
Trident
Date
29 October 2009
Reference
498 c502W; 295390
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the initial gate decision on Trident replacement has been delayed until after the forthcoming Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the initial gate decision on Trident replacement has been delayed until after the forthcoming Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 October 2009
For answer on
21 October 2009
Answered on
28 October 2009
The Defence Board will consider the work required during the Concept Phase work later this year. There has been no decision to delay Initial Gate because of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2010.
Subjects
Trident
Date
28 October 2009
Reference
498 c377W; 295105
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of (a) the cost and (b) the length of time it would take to decommission Trident and its facilities; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of (a) the cost and (b) the length of time it would take to decommission Trident and its facilities; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Joan Walley
(Labour)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 July 2009
For answer on
12 October 2009
Answered on
19 October 2009
When nuclear submarines leave the naval service, they will be subject to a process known as Defuel, De-equip and Lay-up Preparation, which will involve spent nuclear materials being removed for storage at Sellafield, and any remaining irradiated material being secured within the reactor compartment. In line with current practice for other submarines now leaving service, the submarines themselves will then be stored afloat at either Devonport or Rosyth, pending final disposal.The submarines will then be dismantled, a process that will take approximately 12 months. The current budget for this process (known as the Submarine Dismantling Project) is some £1.5 billion. This covers the dismantling of 27 nuclear submarines from HMS Dreadnought through to HMS Vengeance, the 4th boat in the current nuclear deterrent fleet. At present costs of decommissioning cannot be broken down by class.Faslane and other facilities associated with the submarine flotilla will remain in service to support the future deterrent and the Astute class submarine. There are no plans for decommissioning these facilities.
Subjects
Trident
Date
19 October 2009
Reference
497 c1230-1W; 289768
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 848W, on Trident: Scotland, (1) how many of the 589 civilians at HM Naval Base Clyde whose jobs directly rely upon the Trident programme are employed in (a) engineering and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 848W, on Trident: Scotland, (1) how many of the 589 civilians at HM Naval Base Clyde whose jobs directly rely upon the Trident programme are employed in (a) engineering and...
Asked by
Baroness Clark of Kilwinning
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 March 2009
For answer on
4 March 2009
Answered on
14 October 2009
The information requested is not held by my Department in that format.
Action is ongoing, however, to update the December 2006 figures as part of a broader package of work. I will write to my hon. Friend when this work is complete.
Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Katy Clark:"In answer to your Written Questions on 9 March, (Official Report, column 178W) the then Secretary of State undertook to write to you on completion of a package of work that was being carried out to update the number of civilian jobs in Scotland that directly rely upon the Trident programme.""This exercise has now been completed and a breakdown of civilian jobs by skill and home location at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde, including Faslane and Coulport, directly reliant upon the Trident programme is provided below."
"Unfortunately, however, some of the information is not held in the format you requested. The revised figure of 464 civilian jobs that directly rely on the Trident programme in Scotland reflects the position as at March 2009. This excludes any Ministry of Defence Guard Service or Ministry of Defence Police posts because this figure is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security and defence."
"It is estimated that there are a further 200 indirect civilian jobs in Scotland relating to support activities on the Trident programme. Officials have confirmed that information relating to indirect civilian jobs was derived using national multipliers as published by the Scottish Executive on 31 March 2009, for the ship building, weapons and ammunition, instruments industries and project management/business service as appropriate. It is, therefore, not possible to break out this information in terms of skills and location."
"I hope this information is useful."
| Skill | Ministry of Defence | Babcock Marine | Total |
| Engineering and Science | 85 | 197 | 282 |
| Logistics | 22 | 22 | 44 |
| Health and Safety | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Outfitting and Steel Work | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other areas | 40 | 25 | 65 |
| Total | 147 | 245 | 392 |
| Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems: breakdown by skill set is unavailable | — | — | 72 |
| Total civilian jobs directly reliant on Trident | — | — | 464 |
| Location | Ministry of Defence | Babcock Marine | Total |
| Argyll and Bute | 74 | 66 | 140 |
| West Dumbartonshire | 48 | 104 | 152 |
| Elsewhere in Scotland | 25 | 75 | 100 |
| Outside Scotland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 147 | 245 | 392 |
| Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems: breakdown in terms of home location is unavailable | — | — | 72 |
| Total civilian jobs directly reliant on Trident | — | — | 464 |
| Notes: | |||
| 1. Figures shown are as at March 2009 and based on individuals employed. | |||
| 2. Ministry of Defence Police and Ministry of Defence Guard Service have not been included in this exercise. This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security and defence. | |||
| 3. Posts with the Strategic Weapon System heading have been considered Trident-related. |
Notes
Question originally printed on 09/03/2009 at 489 c179W.
Subjects
Scotland; Trident
Date
14 October 2009
Reference
497 c962-3W; 260953
House
House of Commons
(2) how many of the 589 civilians at HM Naval Base Clyde whose jobs directly rely upon the Trident programme are resident in (a) Argyll and Bute constituency, (b) West Dunbartonshire constituency, (c) elsewhere in Scotland and (d) outside Scotland;
(2) how many of the 589 civilians at HM Naval Base Clyde whose jobs directly rely upon the Trident programme are resident in (a) Argyll and Bute constituency, (b) West Dunbartonshire constituency, (c) elsewhere in Scotland and (d) outside Scotland;
Asked by
Baroness Clark of Kilwinning
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 March 2009
For answer on
4 March 2009
Answered on
14 October 2009
The information requested is not held by my Department in that format.
Action is ongoing, however, to update the December 2006 figures as part of a broader package of work. I will write to my hon. Friend when this work is complete.
Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Katy Clark:"In answer to your Written Questions on 9 March, (Official Report, column 178W) the then Secretary of State undertook to write to you on completion of a package of work that was being carried out to update the number of civilian jobs in Scotland that directly rely upon the Trident programme.""This exercise has now been completed and a breakdown of civilian jobs by skill and home location at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde, including Faslane and Coulport, directly reliant upon the Trident programme is provided below."
"Unfortunately, however, some of the information is not held in the format you requested. The revised figure of 464 civilian jobs that directly rely on the Trident programme in Scotland reflects the position as at March 2009. This excludes any Ministry of Defence Guard Service or Ministry of Defence Police posts because this figure is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security and defence."
"It is estimated that there are a further 200 indirect civilian jobs in Scotland relating to support activities on the Trident programme. Officials have confirmed that information relating to indirect civilian jobs was derived using national multipliers as published by the Scottish Executive on 31 March 2009, for the ship building, weapons and ammunition, instruments industries and project management/business service as appropriate. It is, therefore, not possible to break out this information in terms of skills and location."
"I hope this information is useful."
| Skill | Ministry of Defence | Babcock Marine | Total |
| Engineering and Science | 85 | 197 | 282 |
| Logistics | 22 | 22 | 44 |
| Health and Safety | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Outfitting and Steel Work | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other areas | 40 | 25 | 65 |
| Total | 147 | 245 | 392 |
| Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems: breakdown by skill set is unavailable | — | — | 72 |
| Total civilian jobs directly reliant on Trident | — | — | 464 |
| Location | Ministry of Defence | Babcock Marine | Total |
| Argyll and Bute | 74 | 66 | 140 |
| West Dumbartonshire | 48 | 104 | 152 |
| Elsewhere in Scotland | 25 | 75 | 100 |
| Outside Scotland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 147 | 245 | 392 |
| Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems: breakdown in terms of home location is unavailable | — | — | 72 |
| Total civilian jobs directly reliant on Trident | — | — | 464 |
| Notes: | |||
| 1. Figures shown are as at March 2009 and based on individuals employed. | |||
| 2. Ministry of Defence Police and Ministry of Defence Guard Service have not been included in this exercise. This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security and defence. | |||
| 3. Posts with the Strategic Weapon System heading have been considered Trident-related. |
Notes
Question originally printed on 09/03/2009 at 489 c179W.
Subjects
Scotland; Trident
Date
14 October 2009
Reference
497 c962-3W; 260954
House
House of Commons
(3) what the (a) skills requirements and (b) geographic distribution of the 250 indirect civilian jobs relating to support activities for the Trident programme in Scotland are.
(3) what the (a) skills requirements and (b) geographic distribution of the 250 indirect civilian jobs relating to support activities for the Trident programme in Scotland are.
Asked by
Baroness Clark of Kilwinning
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 March 2009
For answer on
4 March 2009
Answered on
14 October 2009
The information requested is not held by my Department in that format.
Action is ongoing, however, to update the December 2006 figures as part of a broader package of work. I will write to my hon. Friend when this work is complete.
Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Katy Clark:"In answer to your Written Questions on 9 March, (Official Report, column 178W) the then Secretary of State undertook to write to you on completion of a package of work that was being carried out to update the number of civilian jobs in Scotland that directly rely upon the Trident programme.""This exercise has now been completed and a breakdown of civilian jobs by skill and home location at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde, including Faslane and Coulport, directly reliant upon the Trident programme is provided below."
"Unfortunately, however, some of the information is not held in the format you requested. The revised figure of 464 civilian jobs that directly rely on the Trident programme in Scotland reflects the position as at March 2009. This excludes any Ministry of Defence Guard Service or Ministry of Defence Police posts because this figure is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security and defence."
"It is estimated that there are a further 200 indirect civilian jobs in Scotland relating to support activities on the Trident programme. Officials have confirmed that information relating to indirect civilian jobs was derived using national multipliers as published by the Scottish Executive on 31 March 2009, for the ship building, weapons and ammunition, instruments industries and project management/business service as appropriate. It is, therefore, not possible to break out this information in terms of skills and location."
"I hope this information is useful."
| Skill | Ministry of Defence | Babcock Marine | Total |
| Engineering and Science | 85 | 197 | 282 |
| Logistics | 22 | 22 | 44 |
| Health and Safety | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Outfitting and Steel Work | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other areas | 40 | 25 | 65 |
| Total | 147 | 245 | 392 |
| Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems: breakdown by skill set is unavailable | — | — | 72 |
| Total civilian jobs directly reliant on Trident | — | — | 464 |
| Location | Ministry of Defence | Babcock Marine | Total |
| Argyll and Bute | 74 | 66 | 140 |
| West Dumbartonshire | 48 | 104 | 152 |
| Elsewhere in Scotland | 25 | 75 | 100 |
| Outside Scotland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 147 | 245 | 392 |
| Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems: breakdown in terms of home location is unavailable | — | — | 72 |
| Total civilian jobs directly reliant on Trident | — | — | 464 |
| Notes: | |||
| 1. Figures shown are as at March 2009 and based on individuals employed. | |||
| 2. Ministry of Defence Police and Ministry of Defence Guard Service have not been included in this exercise. This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security and defence. | |||
| 3. Posts with the Strategic Weapon System heading have been considered Trident-related. |
Notes
Question originally printed on 09/03/2009 at 489 c179W.
Subjects
Scotland; Trident
Date
14 October 2009
Reference
497 c962-3W; 260955
House
House of Commons
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the opportunity cost of maintaining a UK nuclear weapons system for (a) other UK defence and security spending and (b) spending on schools and hospitals in (i) 10 years, (ii) 20 years and (iii) 40 years time; and...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the opportunity cost of maintaining a UK nuclear weapons system for (a) other UK defence and security spending and (b) spending on schools and hospitals in (i) 10 years, (ii) 20 years and (iii) 40 years time; and...
Asked by
Joan Walley
(Labour)
Answered by
Liam Byrne
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 July 2009
For answer on
12 October 2009
Answered on
12 October 2009
Information regarding the costs of maintaining a UK nuclear deterrent was set out in the 2006 White Paper, The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent'.
Subjects
Public expenditure; Schools; Trident
Date
12 October 2009
Reference
497 c260W; 289767
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of his Department's likely expenditure on the Initial Gate phase for Trident.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of his Department's likely expenditure on the Initial Gate phase for Trident.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 July 2009
For answer on
20 July 2009
Answered on
9 September 2009
The UK's nuclear deterrent comprises a number of elements, including the Trident D5 missile system, the nuclear warhead and the Vanguard Class submarines. Decisions are not required in the near future on the D5 missile or the warhead and neither will be included in the forthcoming Initial Gate business case, which will concentrate on the replacement submarine and associated propulsion system.Initial Gate is a decision point in the acquisition process. The final spend on reaching Initial Gate cannot be calculated until after that point is reached; however, the total spend on the replacement submarine and associated propulsion system since the beginning of April 2007 to the end of June 2009 is some £250 million.Until Initial Gate decisions are made it is too early to say what the likely expenditure will be for the period between that time and the Main Gate decision point.
Subjects
Finance; Trident
Date
9 September 2009
Reference
496 c2002-3W; 288778
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of conventional forces protecting Trident was in 2008-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of conventional forces protecting Trident was in 2008-09.
Asked by
Nick Harvey
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 July 2009
For answer on
20 July 2009
Answered on
1 September 2009
We do not routinely calculate the operating cost of specific committed or contingent force elements in support of the deterrent, and such estimates are necessarily illustrative. The answer, the right hon. Des Browne, as Defence Secretary, gave to the hon. Member on 8 March 2007, Official Report, column 2131W, estimated the annual operating costs of committed conventional force elements to be around £25-30 million. We have not prepared a more recent estimate as to do so would incur disproportionate costs.
Subjects
Finance; Trident
Date
1 September 2009
Reference
496 c1807W; 288764
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on Trident II; and what his Department's estimate is of how much it would cost to order (a) three and (b) four boats to replace Trident I.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on Trident II; and what his Department's estimate is of how much it would cost to order (a) three and (b) four boats to replace Trident I.
Asked by
Mike Hancock
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
13 July 2009
For answer on
15 July 2009
Answered on
1 September 2009
The current Trident II D5 missile is expected to remain in service until 2042. No expenditure has been incurred on a successor to the Trident II D5 missile.As set out in the 2006 White Paper, we estimate that the procurement costs of the replacement for the current Vanguard class submarines will be between £11-14 billion at 2006-07 prices. The total spent on the replacement submarine and associated propulsion system since the beginning of April 2007 to the end of June 2009 is some £250 million.Work is ongoing to assess whether continuous at sea deterrence could be achieved with a three boat fleet, and at what cost.
Subjects
Finance; Trident
Date
1 September 2009
Reference
496 c1807W; 287200
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the lifetime cost of a replacement system for Trident.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the lifetime cost of a replacement system for Trident.
Asked by
Harry Cohen
(Labour)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
15 July 2009
For answer on
20 July 2009
Answered on
20 July 2009
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 19W, to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael).
Subjects
Finance; Trident
Date
20 July 2009
Reference
496 c888W;496 c888-9W; 288433
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in respect of which his Department has disclosed information in the last 12 months have related to the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and its launch...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in respect of which his Department has disclosed information in the last 12 months have related to the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and its launch...
Asked by
Dai Davies
(Independent (affiliation))
Answered by
Chris Bryant
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
9 July 2009
For answer on
13 July 2009
Answered on
14 July 2009
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no requests in the last 12 months under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 related to the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and its launch platform.
Subjects
Freedom of information; Trident
Date
14 July 2009
Reference
496 c333W; 286851
House
House of Commons
We currently expect to consider initial gate later this year.
We currently expect to consider initial gate later this year.
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Asked by
Danny Alexander
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Oral answers to questions
When he expects the initial gate decision on the planned replacement of the Trident nuclear deterrent to be made; and if he will make a statement.
Subjects
Trident
Date
13 July 2009
Reference
496 c13
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Initial gate does not entail the commitments that the hon. Gentleman talks about, and the answer is no.
Initial gate does not entail the commitments that the hon. Gentleman talks about, and the answer is no.
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Asked by
Danny Alexander
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Oral answers to questions
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. However, given that a number of people, including retired military officers, former Defence Secretaries and academics, are now saying that Trident is both irrelevant and unaffordable, will the Secretary of State defer the initial gate process and the hundreds of millions of pounds that it would commit us to spending until a further, full debate in this place that takes into account the new financial and strategic circumstances?
Subjects
Trident
Date
13 July 2009
Reference
496 c13
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. We recently found that the carriers would require an extra £1 billion. Can he tell us whether the Government are fully committed in all circumstances to a like-for-like replacement for Trident and to two new aircraft carriers and, if they are, what their strategy is for ensuring over the next 20 years that the Ministry of Defence can provide the resources required to ensure that our troops are fully equipped for all the challenges that they face?
I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. We recently found that the carriers would require an extra £1 billion. Can he tell us whether the Government are fully committed in all circumstances to a like-for-like replacement for Trident and to two new aircraft carriers and, if they are, what their strategy is for ensuring over the next 20 years that the Ministry of Defence can provide the resources required to ensure that our troops are fully equipped for all the challenges that they face?
Asked by
Alan Reid
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 July 2009
There seems to be a little contradiction between the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), who is sitting right next to him—
... Indeed, and this is not unusual.
As I have just said, we are committed to Trident and to the carriers. There has been an increase in the programme costs of the carriers, as the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mr. Reid) suggests, but we are committed to both projects.
Subjects
Defence; Finance; Trident; Economic situation
Date
13 July 2009
Reference
496 c14
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. However, given that a number of people, including retired military officers, former Defence Secretaries and academics, are now saying that Trident is both irrelevant and unaffordable, will the Secretary of State defer the initial gate process and the hundreds of millions of pounds that it would commit us to spending until a further, full debate in this place that takes into account the new financial and strategic circumstances?
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. However, given that a number of people, including retired military officers, former Defence Secretaries and academics, are now saying that Trident is both irrelevant and unaffordable, will the Secretary of State defer the initial gate process and the hundreds of millions of pounds that it would commit us to spending until a further, full debate in this place that takes into account the new financial and strategic circumstances?
Asked by
Danny Alexander
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 July 2009
Initial gate does not entail the commitments that the hon. Gentleman talks about, and the answer is no.
Subjects
Trident
Date
13 July 2009
Reference
496 c13
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Does the Secretary of State share my disappointment at the fact that we seem to be losing the argument about Trident purely because of the financial bill? Would it not be better if, rather than his giving us holding replies as he did today and referring back to 2006, we started an open debate about the strategy and the options—as suggested by my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis)—so that people can begin to understand why we need it?
Does the Secretary of State share my disappointment at the fact that we seem to be losing the argument about Trident purely because of the financial bill? Would it not be better if, rather than his giving us holding replies as he did today and referring back to 2006, we started an open debate about the strategy and the options—as suggested by my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis)—so that people can begin to understand why we need it?
Asked by
Michael Mates
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Topical questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 July 2009
I think that the debate has already started. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, there is quite a debate raging in his own party about the future of the Trident nuclear weapon. The defence team has one view, while the Treasury team appears to have another. However, there is a need for a debate on defence across the piece. That is why I announced the other week a process to produce a Green Paper on defence capability. I hope that we can conduct that process in a cross-party manner, and that as many people as possible will become involved in a non-partisan way.
Subjects
Trident; Defence; Finance
Date
13 July 2009
Reference
496 c18
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the cost to his Department of replacing Trident.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the cost to his Department of replacing Trident.
Asked by
Alistair Carmichael
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Bob Ainsworth
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 July 2009
For answer on
13 July 2009
Answered on
13 July 2009
The estimated procurement costs for replacing the Trident nuclear deterrent are £15-20 billion, at 2006-07 prices for a four-boat fleet. Once the new fleet of submarines comes into service annual in-service capital and running costs of the deterrent, which includes the costs of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, are expected to be similar to today. This cost is currently around 5 to 6 per cent. of the annual defence budget.
Subjects
Finance; Trident
Date
13 July 2009
Reference
496 c19W; 285636
House
House of Commons