Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the new Russian nuclear weapons announced in the speech by President Putin to the Russian Federal Assembly on 1 March; and to what degree their introduction alters the strategic military balance in Europe.

We regret that the Kremlin's focus is not working for strategic stability, but this announcement demonstrates why the UK cannot relax its guard. We remain completely confident in our minimum, credible, independent nuclear deterrent. We will continue to keep our nuclear posture under review in the light of the international security environment and the actions of all potential adversaries.