Trident Submarines

Commons Chamber
Budget Resolutions - Tue 12 Mar 2024
HM Treasury

Mentions:
1: George Galloway (WPB - Rochdale) We voted in the Lobby together against the renewal of Trident submarines. - Speech Link

Scottish Parliament Debate - Main Chamber
Scotland’s Place in the World - Tue 05 Mar 2024

Mentions:
1: Robertson, Angus (SNP - Edinburgh Central) to attempts to silence that voice; having a nuclear-free Scotland or spending billions of pounds on Trident - Speech Link
2: Bibby, Neil (Lab - West Scotland) that there are no details in the Scottish Government’s paper on the number of warships, the number of submarines - Speech Link
3: Brown, Keith (SNP - Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) What is the sound of a nuclear Trident submarine drill? It is a “plop” in the water. - Speech Link

Written Question

Nuclear Weapons

Tuesday 5th March 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to diversify the UK's nuclear deterrent capabilities.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The 2013 Trident Alternatives Review demonstrated that no other system is as capable, resilient or cost effective as our current deterrent capability based on a four nuclear-armed submarine solution. That has not changed; the Trident II D5 missile system, carried by our Vanguard Class submarines, remains the most reliable weapons system in the world having successfully completed more than 190 tests.

The Government has absolute confidence that the UK’s deterrent remains effective, dependable, and formidable. That is why we are continuing to invest in the next generation of Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarines, in extending the life of the Trident missile and in replacing the warhead, to keep us safe for decades to come.

Scottish Government Publication (Research and analysis)
Constitution Directorate
External Affairs Directorate

Mar. 04 2024

Source Page: Building a New Scotland An independent Scotland's Place in the World
Document: An independent Scotland’s place in the world (PDF)

Found: These submarines and their missiles are now being replaced and the cost estimates vary widely.

Departmental Publication (News and Communications)
Ministry of Defence

Feb. 27 2024

Source Page: Chief of the Defence Chatham House Security and Defence Conference 2024 keynote speech
Document: Chief of the Defence Chatham House Security and Defence Conference 2024 keynote speech (webpage)

Found: NATO has four times as many ships and three times as many submarines as Russia.

Written Statements
Nuclear Deterrent - Wed 21 Feb 2024
Ministry of Defence

Mentions:
1: Grant Shapps (Con - Welwyn Hatfield) It culminates in a test fire of an unarmed Trident II D5 missile.It is long-standing practice not to - Speech Link

Commons Chamber
Oral Answers to Questions - Mon 19 Feb 2024
Ministry of Defence

Mentions:
1: Grant Shapps (Con - Welwyn Hatfield) continue to make good progress on the optimal pathway to deliver conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines - Speech Link
2: Patrick Grady (SNP - Glasgow North) What recent estimate he has made of the lifetime cost of Trident renewal. - Speech Link
3: Patrick Grady (SNP - Glasgow North) I think that means the Minister does not know what the total lifetime cost of Trident replacement is - Speech Link
4: James Gray (Con - North Wiltshire) Does he agree that we must find a way of replacing Trident within budget, and that the worst possible - Speech Link