To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision was made for the operating cost of conventional forces protecting the nuclear deterrent within the current and projected in-service costs of the UK's nuclear deterrent published in paragraph 5-14 of the White Paper on the Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent. (123987)

Paragraph 5-14 of the White Paper: “The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent” (Cm 6994) refers to the current and future in-service costs of the UK's nuclear deterrent, including the costs for the Atomic Weapons Establishment. It does not include the cost of any conventional forces. This is in line with the way we normally report the costs of the nuclear deterrent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the work detailed in the breakdown of nuclear liabilities outlined in the answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) of 24 July 2006, Official Report, columns 778-79W, on nuclear liabilities, is likely to be carried out before 2055; and which of the items in that answer are included in the projected in-service costs for Trident and its replacement in paragraph 5-14 of the White Paper on the Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent. (124012)

Some 65 per cent. of the nuclear liabilities outlined in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) of 24 July 2006, Official Report, columns 778-79W, are expected to be incurred before 2055. The elements of those liabilities related to the current Trident system are included in the estimate of in-service costs of the UK’s nuclear deterrent set out at paragraph 5-14 of the White Paper: “The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent” (Cm 6994). That estimate also includes an allowance for the decommissioning of a successor system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the role of the British nuclear deterrent in countering terrorism from abroad; whether he plans to revise the new chapter of the Strategic Defence Review on this subject to take account of the White Paper on Trident; and if he will make a statement. (124652)

As we set out in paragraph 3-11 of the White Paper “The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994)”.

“While our nuclear deterrent is not designed to deter non-state actors, it should influence the decision making of any state that might consider transferring nuclear technology to terrorists.”

As such, the position is entirely consistent with the analysis set out in the Strategic Defence Review: New Chapter (Cm 5566).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he expects the annual expenditure on renewing the UK's nuclear deterrent capability to be in each of the next 20 years. (125067)

[holding answer 2 March 2007]: Our initial estimates of the future costs (including the procurement costs) involved in sustaining our independent nuclear deterrent capability were set out in paragraphs 5-11 to 5-14 of the White Paper: “The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent”, published on 4 December. At this very early stage in the procurement process, we are not in a position to break down these estimates in the way requested.