HC Deb 17 June 1980 vol 986 cc1327-8
12. Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce a decision about the future of the United Kingdom's independent nuclear deterrent.

Mr. Pym

I have made clear to the House that a decision will be announced as soon as it has been taken.

Mr. Cartwright

Since the most widely favoured replacement for Polaris—the Trident system—is likely to absorb up to 18 per cent. of the defence procurement budget, which is already fully stretched in trying to meet the conventional needs of our forces, can the right hon. Gentle-man tell us how he can afford a highly expensive status symbol without cutting into our non-nuclear contribution to NATO or increasing defence spending still further?

Mr. Pym

As the House knows, no decision has yet been taken on the successor system. Whatever is decided upon will, of course, take a proportion of the defence budget as a whole and a higher proportion of the equipment budget. However, it is speculative to put a figure on that until a decision has been announced. On any analysis of any of the options, the 18 per cent. mentioned by the hon. Gentleman would be too high.

Mr. Lyell

Can my right hon. Friend reassure the House that while he is considering the future of the independent nuclear deterrent he is also considering the conventional home defences of this country within the United Kingdom, which are so important to the credibility to the nuclear deterrent?

Mr. Pym

The answer is "Yes ". It is necessary to have a fully comprehensive defensive capability with our allies, which includes home defence and a nuclear capability, which has always been provided for within the defence budget, as it would have to be in the future. I assure my hon. Friend that all aspects of defence are in my mind, because unless our capability is all-embracing and comprehensive, when allied to those of our friends and allies in NATO, it will not be adequate. It is our job to ensure that it is comprehensive at all times.

Mr. Douglas

Will the right hon. Gentleman hurry up the decision, because of the difficulties in ascertaining the future role of a dockyard such as that at Rosyth and the future loading capabilities of British Shipbuilders, which will not know its future plans until the decision is made?

Mr. Pym

That is a fair point, but it is important to take the right decision from the defence, national and Alliance points of view. After that, we must take the consequential decisions affecting whatever aspects of industry may be concerned.