HC Deb 10 February 1994 vol 237 cc479-80W
Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to maintain the existing maximum warhead ceiling for each Polaris submarine for the remainder of their operational deployment;

(2) what is his policy regarding the maximum warhead ceiling on the United Kingdom's ballistic missile-carrying submarines during the transitional phase from Polaris to Trident.

Mr. Hanley

We have no plans to alter the number of warheads deployed on our Polaris submarines while they remain in service. Each Trident submarine will deploy with no more than 96 warheads, and may carry significantly fewer.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the explosive power of the planned strategic warhead for the Trident missile will be similar to that of the existing Polaris warhead.

Mr. Hanley

It is not our practice to discuss the details of nuclear weapon design.