Statement on the nuclear deterrent
19 May 2011 (updated on 19 May 2011)
Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, made a statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday 18 May on the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Nuclear deterrent successor programme
The Defence Secretary announced to MPs that the Government had approved the early phase of the design known as Initial Gate. The Government have approved the initial gate investment and have selected a submarine design which will replace the existing Vanguard Class. The new submarine will be powered by a new generation of nuclear propulsion system, the Pressurised Water Reactor 3.
Watch and read the statement and the views expressed by MPs on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard. Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, Jim Murphy, responded to the statement on behalf of the Opposition.
Further information
Find current parliamentary material on nuclear missile defence and defence equipment and procurement in the Topics section on the Parliament website.