To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that Initial Gate decisions on the Trident replacement programme are not announced during the 2009 summer adjournment. (277985)

It is not normal for Parliament to be involved in Initial Gate decisions for procurement projects. I do however propose to update Parliament on progress following the Initial Gate decision.

The main investment decision point, and the point at which we would issue the main contracts to industry for the construction of the new submarines, is still several years away.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will re-evaluate his Department’s recommendation for an upgraded Trident missile programme. (278014)

No. On 14 March 2007 the House of Commons voted by a significant margin to accept the recommendations set out in the December 2006 White Paper “The UK’s Future Nuclear Deterrent”. There has been no substantive change in international security since then that would suggest that a further vote is required.