§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Trident D5 missiles that have been purchased from the United States(a) have been test fired and (b) remain to be collected from the United States; [6211]
(2) what plans his Department has to purchase further Trident D5 missiles from the United States; [6212]
(3) when he plans to make an announcement on the purchase of further Trident missiles.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotOf the Trident II (D5) missiles that have been purchased from the United States, four have been test fired and 12 have yet to be collected. Remaining missile orders are likely to be placed over the next three years as part of a joint US-UK procurement programme and initial funding to that end is being committed. I have no immediate plans to make a further statement regarding future missile orders.