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| Warning over nuclear submarines | Warning over nuclear submarines |
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| The UK's continuous seaborne nuclear deterrent is at risk, MPs have warned, amid doubts that a new generation of submarines will be ready on time. | The UK's continuous seaborne nuclear deterrent is at risk, MPs have warned, amid doubts that a new generation of submarines will be ready on time. |
| Two of the UK's four Vanguard nuclear subs will leave service in 2024, with work on replacing them under way. | |
| But the Public Accounts Committee said the timetable for replacement was "extremely tight" and the record of past procurement projects was not good. | But the Public Accounts Committee said the timetable for replacement was "extremely tight" and the record of past procurement projects was not good. |
| Ministers said there was no threat to the deterrent, in operation since 1968. | Ministers said there was no threat to the deterrent, in operation since 1968. |
| Trident renewal | Trident renewal |
| Successive governments since then have remained committed to a continuous nuclear deterrent at sea, requiring at least one nuclear-armed submarine to be on patrol at any one time. | Successive governments since then have remained committed to a continuous nuclear deterrent at sea, requiring at least one nuclear-armed submarine to be on patrol at any one time. |
| Labour set out its plans to build a replacement fleet of submarines in 2006 when it also gave the go-ahead for the £20bn upgrade of its Trident nuclear missile capability. | Labour set out its plans to build a replacement fleet of submarines in 2006 when it also gave the go-ahead for the £20bn upgrade of its Trident nuclear missile capability. |
| The MoD is taking steps to reduce the risk of a new missile not fitting in our submarines but there is no guarantee it will Edward Leigh, chairman Public Accounts Committee | The MoD is taking steps to reduce the risk of a new missile not fitting in our submarines but there is no guarantee it will Edward Leigh, chairman Public Accounts Committee |
| The Committee said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had given itself 17 years to complete the construction of the new submarines when best practice recommended a period of not under than 18. | The Committee said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had given itself 17 years to complete the construction of the new submarines when best practice recommended a period of not under than 18. |
| "The department's timetable for completing the design and build process is extremely tight," said its chairman, Conservative MP Edward Leigh. | "The department's timetable for completing the design and build process is extremely tight," said its chairman, Conservative MP Edward Leigh. |
| "The MoD's track record in delivering major defence projects on time is not exemplary," he added. | "The MoD's track record in delivering major defence projects on time is not exemplary," he added. |
| Vital decisions on design features, including the size of missile compartments, must be made by this autumn, Mr Leigh added. | Vital decisions on design features, including the size of missile compartments, must be made by this autumn, Mr Leigh added. |
| However, he expressed concerns that the question of the missile component would have to be taken in advance of work on developing a successor to the US Trident missile. | However, he expressed concerns that the question of the missile component would have to be taken in advance of work on developing a successor to the US Trident missile. |
| Despite US assurances about its compatibility, the committee was worried that the UK would have no control over the development of the next generation of missile. | Despite US assurances about its compatibility, the committee was worried that the UK would have no control over the development of the next generation of missile. |
| "Our programme to have a renewed nuclear deterrent will depend on yet to be taken decisions by the US on the dimensions of the successor missile," he said. | "Our programme to have a renewed nuclear deterrent will depend on yet to be taken decisions by the US on the dimensions of the successor missile," he said. |
| "The MoD is taking steps to reduce the risk of a new missile not fitting in our submarines but there is no guarantee it will." | "The MoD is taking steps to reduce the risk of a new missile not fitting in our submarines but there is no guarantee it will." |
| But the MoD said there was no doubt that missiles and missile components in future submarines would be compatible. | But the MoD said there was no doubt that missiles and missile components in future submarines would be compatible. |
| Defence procurement minister Quentin Davies said the UK's ability to maintain the submarine deterrent on a continuous basis was not in doubt. | Defence procurement minister Quentin Davies said the UK's ability to maintain the submarine deterrent on a continuous basis was not in doubt. |
| Gordon Brown said earlier this week that he was prepared to include the UK's nuclear arsenal in multilateral arms control talks. | Gordon Brown said earlier this week that he was prepared to include the UK's nuclear arsenal in multilateral arms control talks. |