The Warhead Pre-Concept Working Group was set up to co-ordinate research in support of the detailed review described in paragraph 7-4 of the December 2006 White Paper: “The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent” (Cmd 6994). This review will examine the optimum life of the UK’s existing nuclear warhead stockpile and assess the range of replacement options that might be available to help inform decisions likely to be necessary in the next Parliament.
The value of work being overseen by the WPCWG in 2007-08 amounts to some £10 million. Comparable levels of expenditure are projected for 2008-09 and 2009-10.