Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Walney Excerpts
Monday 18th January 2016

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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First, let me strongly condemn the nuclear tests conducted by North Korea, which seriously threaten regional and international security. I can assure my right hon. Friend that this Government will not gamble with the long-term security of our citizens. We remain committed to maintaining an independent nuclear deterrent. The only thing a nuclear submarine without nuclear weapons is likely to deter is anybody who cares about our security from ever voting Labour again.

Lord Walney Portrait John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op)
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If the UK were to go down the route of decommissioning its warheads, in the so-called Japanese style, and then were to decide it needed to recommission them at some future point, is it the Government’s assessment that it could do so and remain compatible with the non-proliferation treaty?

Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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First, let me make it clear that Japan does not have nuclear-powered submarines and does not have nuclear weapons, so talk of some Japanese option is entirely farcical. So far as the hon. Gentleman’s question is concerned, we have no intention of decommissioning.