§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will confirm that, in the context of a major reduction in intercontinental ballistic missiles, the US Government are "thinking of replacing those with cruise missiles" (the Prime Minister, House of Commons, debate, 2nd April, col. 1227) and how this compares with the Government's arguments in the recent Open Government Document on Trident and the alternatives, where cruise missiles are dismissed as unsuitable for nuclear deterrent purposes.
§ Lord TrefgarneNothing that my right honourable friend has said indicates any change in the British Government's view that in comparison with intercontinental ballistic missiles, cruise missiles 825WA represent a far less cost effective alternative on which to base our sole national strategic nuclear deterrent.