Oral Answers to Questions

Diana Johnson Excerpts

Monday 5th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Peter Luff]

I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman in his constituency and look forward to doing so on a mutually agreeable date. However, he will understand that with a strategic defence and security review going on, it is impossible to give the type of commitment that he seeks. I wish I could, but I cannot.

[Diana R. Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

7. What recent discussions he has had on alternatives to the Trident nuclear deterrent.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox)]

The Government are committed to retaining a minimum nuclear deterrent based on Trident. We have commissioned a review to scrutinise existing plans to renew the deterrent, to ensure value for money.

[Diana R. Johnson]

Have the Liberal Democrats put forward their alternatives to Trident as set out in the coalition agreement, and if so, what are they? They kept very quiet during the general election about what they were.

[Dr Fox]

I am responsible for a lot of things, but the Liberal Democrats’ answers on specific points of policy are a matter for them, not for me. The coalition agreement is very clear that although the Government have set out their policy, the Liberal Democrats are very good at coming forward with their own particular solutions, as I can make clear to the hon. Lady.