Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long a delay in a Trident-related programme must be before it is considered significant enough to report to the Defence Committee in the course of its annual examination of the Trident programme.
§ Mr. SainsburyIt is the MOD's aim to provide the Select Committee on Defence with information concerning the progress of all significant aspects of the project. In reaching a judgment as to the significance of a projected delay in a part of the programme the MOD will consider aspects such as prospects for recovery and possible consequences of any overruns. Judgments are then made on a case-by-case basis.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence where those elements of the Trident warheads that are purchased from the United States will be serviced and maintained.
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§ Mr. SainsburyServicing and maintenance of the British warhead for Trident will be undertaken in this country, regardless of the source of any particular elements.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the proportion of non-fissile elements in the Trident warhead that will be produced in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. SainsburyIt has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal detailed information of this nature, for security reasons. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the broad indications given in the recent report of the Defence Committee (third report, Session 1987–88, page 22, Q26).