§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implication of the START II treaty on the price and specifications of Trident missiles purchased from the United States of America.
§ Mr. AitkenThe START II treaty has no such implications.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether Trident missile service units are designed for removing nuclear warheads from missiles on board Trident submarines;
(2) if he will make a statement on the function of Trident missile service units;
(3) how many Trident missile service units have been ordered from Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. for service at RNAD Coulport.
§ Mr. AitkenThe Trident missile service unit is designed to provide an environmentally controlled working area for the removal and installation of nuclear warheads from Trident missiles on-board Vanguard class submarines. Three missile service units have been ordered.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether it is intended to remove nuclear warheads from Trident missiles on land or while on board Trident submarines;
(2) if he will make a statement on the procedures to be used for loading and unloading nuclear warheads on to and from Trident missiles and the hazards associated with these procedures.
§ Mr. AitkenInstallation and removal of United Kingdom nuclear warheads is planned to take place only when Trident missiles are on-board Vanguard class submarines. We envisage that United Kingdom procedures to install and remove warheads will mirror approved United States practice; the United Kingdom safety assessment is expected to endorse these procedures.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to include within the terms of reference of the new examination of the bids by Rosyth and Devonport for repair and refitting of Trident 59W submarines the matters of direct revenue and capital costs, and local social and economic factors in each area as well as technical capability; if he will arrange for an element of scrutiny independent from the officers of his Department directly involved; and if he will publish the detailed assessment and report on the comparative bids.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAll relevant factors will be taken into account in our considerations, which continue to draw on a wide range of expertise including that of specialist consultants. Once we have formulated proposals these will be announced to the House, and we will release as much information as possible, subject to the constraints of commercial confidentiality and security.