§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 28 April,Official Report, column 772, what is the basis upon which the figure of a 14 per cent. reduction in the total stockpile of United Kingdom nuclear weapons is determined; if the stockpile of United Kingdom nuclear weapons is equivalent to the number of warheads actually deployed; and if he will make a statement; [23108]
(2) pursuant to his oral answer of 28 March to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) Official Report, column 817, if the figure referred to of a 21 per cent. reduction in nuclear warheads is based on a comparison of the total number of nuclear warheads in the United Kingdom's stockpile. [23109]
§ Mr. SoamesThe basis of the figures for reductions in our nuclear deterrent is explained in the footnotes to figure 6 on page 39 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995".
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the four Trident submarines will be deployed with nuclear weapons at any one time. [23110]
§ Mr. SoamesIt is our policy to maintain at least one submarine at sea on deterrent patrol at any time.