Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the UK's nuclear deterrent posture is being adapted to match modern proliferation risks.

The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent exists to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, which cannot be deterred by other means. We continually review our nuclear deterrence posture in light of the international security environment and the actions of potential adversaries, to ensure we can meet the threats facing the UK and our NATO allies.

The Government has accepted all recommendations made in the Strategic Defence Review 2025, including those relating to nuclear. The Defence Investment Plan is delivering on the vision set out in the Government’s response to the SDR to place defence on a stronger, more sustainable footing.

On nuclear deterrence, the Government has committed: to delivering the next generation of the UK’s SSBNs through the Dreadnought programme, to enter service over the 2030s; to £15 billion investment into the UK’s sovereign warhead programme; to continuous submarine production to allow the UK to grow our SSN fleet up to 12; to sustain investment across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, supporting the UK’s alliances, skills and industrial base; to purchase at least 12 F-35As with the intention to contribute these towards NATO’s Nuclear Mission, and; to supporting core NATO capabilities through investments including DPS and IAMD, bolstering NATO’s overall deterrence and defence posture.