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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Trident vote due 'early in 2007' | Trident vote due 'early in 2007' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs will vote early in 2007 on whether Britain's nuclear weapons system should be replaced, Downing Street has said. | MPs will vote early in 2007 on whether Britain's nuclear weapons system should be replaced, Downing Street has said. |
| Ministers are to outline their favoured option - expected to be to replace the Trident weapons system - in a white paper to be published in December. | Ministers are to outline their favoured option - expected to be to replace the Trident weapons system - in a white paper to be published in December. |
| The vote will follow a three-month consultation on the plans, which were discussed at Thursday's Cabinet. | The vote will follow a three-month consultation on the plans, which were discussed at Thursday's Cabinet. |
| Ministers want a quick decision to ensure any replacement is ready when Trident's working life ends in 2024. | Ministers want a quick decision to ensure any replacement is ready when Trident's working life ends in 2024. |
| Asked if the decision was being pushed through too quickly, Commons leader Jack Straw told MPs: "It is the government's judgement that it is necessary to make a decision, and there is no suggestion whatsoever of this decision being rushed." | Asked if the decision was being pushed through too quickly, Commons leader Jack Straw told MPs: "It is the government's judgement that it is necessary to make a decision, and there is no suggestion whatsoever of this decision being rushed." |
| Defence 'essential' | Defence 'essential' |
| It remains unclear whether MPs will just have a vote on the principle of retaining nuclear weapons, or whether they will have a wider vote on options such as updating Trident. | It remains unclear whether MPs will just have a vote on the principle of retaining nuclear weapons, or whether they will have a wider vote on options such as updating Trident. |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown - widely expected to be his successor - have both indicated their support for retaining an independent nuclear weapons system. | Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown - widely expected to be his successor - have both indicated their support for retaining an independent nuclear weapons system. |
| TRIDENT MISSILE SYSTEM Missile length: 44ft (13m)Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)Diameter: 74 inches (1.9m)Range: More than 4,600 miles (7,400km)Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocketCost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile Source: Federation of American Scientists How Trident works | TRIDENT MISSILE SYSTEM Missile length: 44ft (13m)Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)Diameter: 74 inches (1.9m)Range: More than 4,600 miles (7,400km)Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocketCost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile Source: Federation of American Scientists How Trident works |
| Mr Blair has said they were an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. | Mr Blair has said they were an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. |
| Supporters argue Trident is needed to deter any threat - particularly at a time when countries like North Korea and Iran harbour their own nuclear ambitions. | Supporters argue Trident is needed to deter any threat - particularly at a time when countries like North Korea and Iran harbour their own nuclear ambitions. |
| The Conservatives also back retaining nuclear weapons, while the Liberal Democrats have called for a wider vote on the options. | The Conservatives also back retaining nuclear weapons, while the Liberal Democrats have called for a wider vote on the options. |
| CND concerns | CND concerns |
| Britain has 16 Trident missiles based on each of the four nuclear submarines. | |
| Defence minister Lord Drayson told a Commons committee this week that the white paper would look at whether to keep a submarine-based system or change to a land-based or aircraft-based system. | Defence minister Lord Drayson told a Commons committee this week that the white paper would look at whether to keep a submarine-based system or change to a land-based or aircraft-based system. |
| MPs on that Commons defence committee, who are looking at the issue, are also considering a "middle way" of overhauling, rather than replacing, the submarine fleet carrying the US-made Trident missiles. | MPs on that Commons defence committee, who are looking at the issue, are also considering a "middle way" of overhauling, rather than replacing, the submarine fleet carrying the US-made Trident missiles. |
| Anti-nuclear campaigners say they fear the government has already decided to go ahead with replacing Trident. | Anti-nuclear campaigners say they fear the government has already decided to go ahead with replacing Trident. |
| Critics say the cost of replacing Trident - estimated at up to £25bn - would be better spent elsewhere, particularly as nuclear weapons would be useless in the fight against international terrorism. | Critics say the cost of replacing Trident - estimated at up to £25bn - would be better spent elsewhere, particularly as nuclear weapons would be useless in the fight against international terrorism. |
| Kate Hudson, chairman of CND - the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament - said a White Paper could "close down" the wider debate. | Kate Hudson, chairman of CND - the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament - said a White Paper could "close down" the wider debate. |