Commons publications

Commons Library - The Future of the British Nuclear Deterrent – Suggested Reading

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Date: 
10 August, 2010
Source: 
http://www.parliament.uk

'In December 2006 the Labour Government published a white paper entitled The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent which set out the Government’s goals and principle recommendations for replacing the UK’s nuclear deterrent beyond the 2020s. A debate and vote in the House of Commons on the general principle of whether the UK should retain a strategic nuclear deterrent beyond the life of the current system was subsequently held on 14 March 2007 in which the Government motion was approved by 409 to 161 votes.
 
However, the debate on the feasibility of replacing the UK’s nuclear deterrent in the current economic and political climate is ongoing. Many commentators have thus called for a further debate and vote in the House of Commons before the programme is taken any further forward.
 
The following is a list of suggested reading material which provides background on the decision to replace the nuclear deterrent, the international legal context for such a decision and the current debate on financial and political viability, including the impact of the programme on the wider Strategic Defence and Security Review, which is due to report in the autumn.'

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Commons Library - Future of the British Nuclear Deterrent: A Progress Report, SN/IA/5150, Update August 2010

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Date: 
10 August, 2010
Source: 
http://www.parliament.uk

1 Background
 
2 Procurement Status 
 
2.1 Initial Gate
 
2.2 Coalition Government’s Value for Money Review
 
3 Spending on Trident Replacement
 
3.1 Funding the Capital Costs of Trident – Treasury v. MOD
 
Initial Procurement of Trident
 
2007 Comprehensive Spending Review
 
4 Parliamentary Scrutiny of Initial Gate
 
4.1 A Parliamentary Vote? 
 
5 Debate on Renewal

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Commons Library - Progress towards disarmament? Research Paper 10/42

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Date: 
15 June, 2010
Source: 
http://www.parliament.uk

Extract 'Several analysts have concurred that the review may well recommend that the UK bring its declaratory policy into line with the US Nuclear Posture Review in order to harmonise UK and US nuclear policy and avoid any potential confusion within NATO. It will also be for the new government to determine whether parliamentary scrutiny of the programme going forward will also be subject to further debate and votes in the House, as several commentators have called for and whether technical proposals put forward under Labour, such as the reduction to a three-boat class, will now be pursued. As outlined above, the decision on whether to replace or refurbish the UK’s nuclear warhead will also be required within the lifetime of the current Parliament.' [p 63]

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Commons Library - Strategic Defence Review Green Paper: Preliminary Observations, SN/IA/5341

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Date: 
11 February, 2010
Source: 
http://www.parliament.uk

'The Government published its defence Green Paper on 3 February 2010. The observations and recommendations in that paper will now inform the work of a Strategic Defence Review which the Government has committed to undertaking shortly after the General Election. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats have also stated that they will hold a defence review should they take office.
 
This note sets out some of the background to the Green Paper, its main conclusions and some initial reactions within Parliament, the media and the wider defence community. This briefing will eventually form part of a larger Library Research Paper on the forthcoming Strategic Defence Review.'

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Commons Library - Future of the British Nuclear Deterrent: A Progress Report, SN/IA/5150

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Date: 
4 September, 2009
Source: 
http://www.parliament.uk

'The intention of this note is to provide a brief update on the status of the programme, the decisions that have yet to be taken and the wider debate on the feasibility of replacing the UK’s nuclear deterrent in the current economic and political climate.'

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