§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral statement of 8 July 1998,Official Report, column 1076, if the figure of 48 nuclear warheads to be deployed on each Trident submarine is a minimum figure. [50617]
237W
§ Mr. George RobertsonThe figure of 48 is the exact number of warheads that we plan to deploy on our Trident submarines.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been(a) the maximum and (b) the average number of nuclear warheads deployed on each Trident submarine since HMS 'Vanguard' entered service. [50618]
§ Mr. George RobertsonTrident submarines have typically deployed on deterrent patrol with 60 warheads.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to remove Trident nuclear warheads from Coulport for dismantling in order to implement the Strategic Defence Review; and what proportion of warheads are to be removed; [50565]
(2) what plans he has to reduce the number of Trident nuclear warheads currently deployed on Vanguard class submarines in order to implement the Strategic Defence Review; and what proportion of warheads are to be removed. [50566]
§ Mr. George Robertson12 warheads are to be removed from each of the three Trident submarines currently in service during their next programmed docking in the warhead fitting facility at Coulport. This process will be completed before the end of the year. Production of warheads to meet previous plans had not been completed and we do not need to decommission any warheads to implement Strategic Defence Review changes. Adjustments are being made to future warhead production, refurbishment and decommissioning plans to maintain an operationally available stockpile of fewer than 200 warheads.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the fourth Trident submarine, Vengeance, is scheduled to carry out contractors' sea trials in Scotland. [50567]
§ Mr. George RobertsonContractors' sea trials are scheduled to take place early next year.