HC Deb 24 July 2000 vol 354 cc378-9W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his departmental budget is allocated for expenditure on(a) the verification of nuclear arms agreements, (b) the dismantling of redundant nuclear weapons stocks, (c) research on the safe storage and transport of nuclear weapons and (d) the development of a new nuclear warhead or delivery vehicle for nuclear warheads (i) independently and (ii) in collaboration with the United States, using computer simulation facilities. [130846]

Mr. Hoon

The following sums are recorded as having been expended during 1999–2000:

  1. (a) the verification of nuclear arms agreements—£4.2 million
  2. (b) the dismantling of redundant nuclear weapons—£11.5 million
  3. (c) work on the safe storage and transport of nuclear weapons makes use of information and capabilities gained in the various parts of the wider research programme rather than as a discrete activity. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  4. (d) There are no current plans for any replacement for Trident, and as published in the Strategic Defence Review, we are maintaining only the minimum capability to design and produce a successor should this prove necessary. There was therefore no expenditure on the development of a new nuclear warhead or delivery vehicle for nuclear warheads, (i) independently or (ii) in collaboration with the United States, using computer simulation facilities.