Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the safety of the Trident nuclear weapons system; and if he will make a statement.

The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the Department's priority. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. Nuclear safety has not been compromised.

The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator Annual Assurance Reports for the periods 2015-16 and 2016-17 will not be published as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This does not prevent the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme, nor prevent its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.