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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation UK Prime Minister Tony Blair announces that a decision on Trident replacement will be taken 'this year', June 28, 2006Prime Minister's Questions, Hansard, June 28, 2006, Column 253 Mr. David Cameron (Witney) (Con): … When asked about the need to replace Britain's independent nuclear deterrent, the Prime Minister said at that Dispatch Box last week that he wanted the fullest possible debate, and that a decision would be taken later in this Parliament. That afternoon, the Chancellor of the Exchequer went around saying that he had made a decision and that it would be announced later this year. Will the Prime Minister tell us what the Chancellor was up to? The Prime Minister: It was made clear in the Labour manifesto that we are committed to maintaining the independent nuclear deterrent, and I have also said that we think that it is right to do so. A decision will be taken in this Parliament, and that will happen later this year. It is important that Britain makes sure that it can defend itself properly. I believe that an independent nuclear deterrent is an essential part of that. Mr. Cameron: In his speech, the Chancellor repeated what was in Labour's manifesto, but he went around briefing something completely different. The BBC's political editor said that he wished the Chancellor
One of the things that the Chancellor said was that there should be a vote. So will the Prime Minister tell us, in plain English: will the House of Commons have a vote on whether Trident is replaced? The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House dealt with this during business questions last week. He said, rightly, that we will of course consult the House fully. The method of doing so will be announced at the time when we publish the White Paper. I can assure the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) that there will of course be the fullest possible debate, as there would have to be. I am rather surprised that the right hon. Gentleman does not want to debate today the policy he announced yesterday on the Bill of Rights. Since we are having a debate, at long last, on policy, I thought he might want to debate one of his. Mr. Cameron: It is a simple enough question: the Chancellor wants a vote and the Education Secretary has said there ought to be vote; can we have a vote in the House? The Prime Minister: I have already explained that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House made the position clear last Thursday. That is the position, and we will announce the means of consultation when we publish the White Paper. Of course, we believe it is extremely important to have the fullest possible debate on the subject... 28 Jun 2006 : Column 255 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): I am sure that the Prime Minister would accept that the 1970 nuclear non-proliferation treaty commits this country and all other declared nuclear powers to long-term 28 Jun 2006 : Column 256 disarmament. In light of that, will he explain why the Government are even considering an extension to, or a replacement for, Trident? Should not we seize this historic opportunity to start a process of nuclear disarmament around the world? The Prime Minister: We do an immense amount in that area, and there is nothing inconsistent in renewing our independent nuclear deterrent and in being in favour of non-proliferation. My hon. Friend's remarks are an indication that the debate will be lively. Source: UK House of Commons Hansard, http://www.parliament.uk. © 2006 The Acronym Institute. |