Trident (Hansard, 23 November 1993)

§ 6. Mr. Hendry
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect he expects from the reduction in the Trident submarine firepower; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Rifkind
The announcement of a revised ceiling of 96 warheads per Trident submarine is based on our current assessment of our minimum deterrent needs.

§ Mr. Hendry
I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply. Can he confirm that when Trident is fully deployed, the total nuclear firepower held by the United Kingdom will be 25 per cent. lower than it was in 1990? Does not that show that the Government continue to have a coherent nuclear defence policy? Is not that in sharp contrast to the Labour party, whose spokesman—the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark)—has told the world at large, or at least that portion of it which reads the New Statesman, that even if a Labour Government kept Trident they would not use it?

§ Mr. Rifkind
It is certainly correct that the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) has a curious understanding of the meaning of deterrent. He said clearly and unequivocally that a Labour Government would never use a deterrent, but would keep it simply so that it would be available.
My hon. Friend is correct to say that there has been a 25 per cent. reduction in nuclear firepower compared with 1990. In addition to the measures that we have proposed for Trident, there has been a 50 per cent. reduction in the number of Tornados carrying sub-strategic weapons. We have also abolished the nuclear artillery facility as well as nuclear tactical weapons carried on surface ships. The United Kingdom has made a substantial contribution to the reduction of nuclear weapons throughout the world.

§ Mr. Flynn
Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman list the circumstances in which Britain is likely to use its nuclear weapons?

§ Mr. Rifkind
The circumstances are precisely the same as those that existed when we first acquired nuclear weapons. If this country were faced with an attack by a nuclear power or by a country that had nuclear weapons and was threatening to overwhelm us, the United Kingdom, either by itself or as part of NATO, would be determined to use the power at our disposal to protect our citizens and our territory.