Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Nuclear Deterrent

Monday 13 June 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK will replace its current nuclear warhead and four new Dreadnought class submarines will enter service in the early 2030s.
  • The Defence Secretary stated that the SNP cannot support both an independent Scotland joining NATO and removing part of its nuclear defence.
  • The Defence Secretary referenced a 2021 statement by the First Minister regarding an independent Scotland being a keen signatory to the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Defence
Context

Discussion about maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent effectiveness.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to maintain the effectiveness of the UK's nuclear deterrent?

Answer from Ben Wallace

Four new Dreadnought class submarines will enter service from the early 2030s, and we will replace the current nuclear warhead. We keep our nuclear posture under constant review in the light of the global security environment. About 30,000 jobs across the nuclear enterprise are dedicated to maintaining and delivering the deterrent, now and tomorrow.

Answered
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Q2 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Defence Scotland
Context

Poll showing 58% of Scots support for Trident; SNP's stance on removal and NATO.

Question

The Government will be aware of a recent opinion poll that shows that Trident enjoys 58% support among Scots, yet the SNP and Green Ministers in the Scottish Government wish to see us remove Trident and even leave NATO altogether. Given the current international crisis, does the Defence Secretary think their position is wise?

Answer from Ben Wallace

It is certainly the case that the SNP cannot have it both ways. It wants to have an independent Scotland and join NATO, while also removing part of its nuclear defence. I notice that the First Minister alone said in 2021 that an independent Scotland would be a “keen signatory” to the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. That would make it the only NATO country to be a signatory to that treaty, and it is a clue to how the SNP says one thing and does another.

Not addressed: The specific stance on maintaining Trident despite opposition from SNP and Green ministers in Scotland was avoided.

How: Changing Subject Entirely, Criticising The Snp'S Position

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