HC Deb 02 November 1998 vol 318 cc349-51W
Laura Moffatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the conventional forces assigned to protect Trident (a) permanently and (b) in an emergency, indicating the annual operating costs of each in the last year for which figures are available. [55371]

Mr. George Robertson

There are no conventional forces operating permanently in protection of Trident. The force elements which we assume for planning purposes to have a role in support of Trident are listed in Annex B to the Strategic Defence Review Supporting Essay on Future Military Capabilities (Essay Six) against Military Task 27—Nuclear forces.

These forces are in practice routinely engaged in a variety of training and other tasks whilst being held at varying levels of readiness for support of Trident. Those designated as "committed" are at short notice; those designated "contingent" are primarily provided for other tasks and would be called upon in support of Trident only in an extreme emergency.

The annual operating cost of "committed" forces is estimated at around £125 million. (This figure also includes an element for six Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopters and one survey vessel, which are not considered major force elements for the purposes of the force structure tables in the SDR Supporting Essay). For the reasons given, this figure is not attributable directly to Trident, nor does it represent the potential saving if the Trident role were discontinued. The annual operating cost of the forces with a "contingent" role is around £176 million.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the reduced day-to-day alert state of UK Trident missiles referred to in the report on the Strategic Defence Review involves physical changes to the missiles or their guidance systems. [55868]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 28 October 1998]: No physical changes to the missiles or guidance systems are involved; UK Trident missiles have been detargeted since 1994. During the Cold War submarines on deterrent patrol were routinely at Quick Reaction Alert, able to fire their missiles within a few minutes. With the single submarine on deterrent patrol now at several days notice to fire, the Commanding Officer has greater flexibility in the day-to-day operation of the vessel and is able to carry out the secondary tasks announced in the Strategic Defence Review without compromising the security or the effectiveness of the deterrent.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum number of warheads with which UK Trident missiles have been(a) tested and (b) deployed. [55986]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 28 October 1998]: To reveal the number of inert re-entry bodies carried during Trident test firings, or the number of live warheads deployed on individual Trident missiles on UK submarines would give a harmful insight into the capabilities of our deterrent. Therefore I am withholding the answer under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Trident submarines are on patrol; what are the total number of war heads in service; and on what target the warheads are directed. [57689]

Mr. George Robertson

We have only one Trident submarine on deterrent patrol at a time. Its missiles are detargetted. Concerning the total number of warheads in service, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 14 July 1998,Official Report, column 167.

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