Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the defence capabilities of the Armed Forces in response to China's (a) Dongfeng-5C intercontinental ballistic missile and (b) second-strike capability.

The Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific capabilities, as doing so could provide an operational advantage to those who may seek to harm the UK.

The UK has a suite of capabilities to tackle the missile threat which is advancing, proliferating and converging. The Government has announced an investment of £1 billion to enhance our homeland air and missile defence through the Strategic Defence Review. The UK’s nuclear deterrent exists to deter the most extreme threats to the UK and our Allies. Its purpose is to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.