HL Deb 24 February 1988 vol 493 c1284WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of Senator Nunn's proposals for developing anti-missile devices which could be deployed so as to "produce options for limited deployments to deal with the frightening possibility of an accidental or unauthorised missile launch", such deployment or the probable Soviet reaction to it would require them to obtain larger numbers of Trident missiles, if available.

Lord Trefgarne

This is a hypothetical question. No developments in Soviet anti-ballistic missile defences are foreseen which are likely to negate the deterrent effect of the Trident force during the lifetime of the system.