HC Deb 30 November 1993 vol 233 cc521-2W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if it is his Department's policy to restrict the explosive firepower of Trident to that deployed on the Polaris force prior to Polaris having been updated with Chevaline;

(2) if it is his Department's policy to restrict the explosive firepower of Trident to that of the Polaris/ Chevaline force currently deployed.

Mr. Hanley

The Government's policy is to deploy the minimum nuclear capability necessary to provide an effective deterrent in the circumstances of the time. On current plans, the total explosive power to be carried on each Trident submarine when they enter service will not be much changed from the total explosive power currently deployed, following the Chevaline development, in each Polaris submarine.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department has reached its calculation that when Trident is fully in service the explosive power of the United Kingdom's operational nuclear inventory will be more than 25 per cent. down on the 1990 figure.

Mr. Hanley

The calculation compared the explosive power of the United Kingdom's operational stockpile of Chevaline and WE177 warheads in 1990 with the explosive power of the planned future operational stockpile of Trident anti WE177 warheads when Trident is fully in service.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department will demonstrate that it has not deployed more than 96 warheads on each of the Trident submarines when they enter service.

Mr. Hanley

In keeping with the practice of successive Governments, we do not make public the number of warheads actually deployed on our submarines. The question of verification does not arise.

Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what negotiations or studies his Department is carrying out into possible future use of cruise missiles on board Trident submarines.

Mr. Hanley

None.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change took place in the explosive firepower of the deployed Polaris force in connection with the deployment of Chevaline.

Mr. Hanley

The introduction into service of Chevaline brought with it a reduction in the total explosive power deployed on each Polaris submarine.