Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Graeme Morrice Excerpts
Monday 12th January 2015

(9 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Mark Francois Portrait Mr Francois
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

A nuclear war would be a tremendous danger to the planet. That is why it is better to deter it.

Graeme Morrice Portrait Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

5. What plans he has to consider delivery of UK defence capability through conventional rather than nuclear weapons as part of the 2015 strategic defence and security review.

Michael Fallon Portrait The Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The next strategic defence and security review is a matter for after the general election. My Department is preparing for the review, but our focus remains the delivery of the 2010 review.

Graeme Morrice Portrait Graeme Morrice
- Hansard - -

In a period of changing security threat, and as the national security strategy noted in 2010, is it not sensible to consider how ending the Trident replacement programme would release resources that could be spent more effectively on other security measures, as well as on a range of other public spending priorities, not least our national health service?

Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Successive Governments, Labour and Conservative, have been committed to our continuous at-sea deterrent for more than 45 years, and I hope that the Labour party in Scotland will not waiver from that. It would be extremely dangerous to move to any kind of part-time or lesser deterrent, and the Conservative party will not gamble with Britain’s national security.