Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 25 February 2020, HCWS125 on Nuclear Deterrent, when final approval was given to build a new replacement warhead; and who approved that decision.

To ensure we can continue to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, the Government, led by the Prime Minister, made the decision to replace the nuclear warhead. Details were announced in the Written Ministerial Statement laid in Parliament by the Secretary of State for Defence on 25 February 2020.

As the right hon. Member will recall, in July 2016 Parliament debated and voted in support of maintaining Continuous At Sea Deterrence and renewing the nuclear deterrent by a significant majority of 355 votes (472 Ayes, 117 Noes).