§ Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government plan to take as a contribution to the elimination of the UK nuclear arsenal, as reaffirmed at the 2000 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. [118412]
§ Mr. HoonThe United Kingdom has an excellent record in fulfilling its Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations on nuclear disarmament. Consistent with the policy set out in the Strategic Defence Review in 1998, the UK has already gone further than other nuclear weapon states in implementing the measures agreed in the Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference.
1023WMore specifically, the UK has:
withdrawn and dismantled the RAF's freefall nuclear bomb so that Trident is now our only nuclear weapons system;reduced our operationally available stockpile to fewer than 200 warheads, which is a reduction of more than 70 per cent. in the potential explosive power of our nuclear forces since the end of the Cold War;dismantled the UK's last Chevaline warhead, in April 2002;reduced the readiness of our nuclear forces. Only a single Trident submarine is now on deterrent patrol, carrying 48 warheads. The submarine on patrol is normally on several days 'notice to fire' and its missiles are de-targeted;placed fissile material no longer required for defence purposes under international safeguards. All enrichment and reprocessing facilities in the UK are now liable to international inspection; andbeen more transparent about our nuclear and fissile material stockpiles and begun a national historical accounting study for fissile material produced.The UK continues to play a full part in the NPT Review Process, including most recently in the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom), which was held in Geneva in April/May this year, where we gave a full account of our progress to date.
§ Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the Government have had on the possibility of a follow-on to the Trident nuclear weapon(a) delivery system and (b) warhead. [118402]
§ Mr. HoonThe Government keep under appropriate review all options, including those relating to nuclear deterrence, consistent with their international legal obligations, for maintaining and enhancing national and international security. There are no current plans for any replacement of Trident and no decisions are yet needed. We stated in the New Chapter to the Strategic Defence Review, published last year (Cm 5566), that the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons have a continuing use as a means of deterring major strategic military threats, and they have a continuing role in guaranteeing the ultimate security of the UK. In line with the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, it is our policy to maintain a minimum capability to design and produce a successor to Trident should this prove necessary.
§ Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new scientific posts are being created at AWE; and what their role is in weapons research. [118400]
§ Dr. MooniePosts to be created over the next few years will he primarily to enable recruitment of graduates who will, in time, replace existing scientists, a number of whom are due to retire. The actual numbers of graduates to be recruited will depend on the success of AWE's recruitment campaign and the suitability of candidates.
The role of AWE is to support United Kingdom nuclear weapons policy as set out in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review.
§ Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether scientific endeavours at AWE include research on new designs for nuclear warheads. [118401]
1024W
§ Dr. MoonieThere are no current plans for any replacement for Trident and no decisions are yet needed. In line with the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, it is our policy to maintain the capability to design and produce a successor weapon should this prove necessary.