nuclear-news

Mr Hammond, the Defence Secretary, announced £350 million to design a replacement to the Trident missile programme in what he claimed was a demonstration of the government’s “very clear” commitment to Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

However, the Deputy Prime Minister warned that the Tories had promised there would be no decision on whether to build a new generation of submarines to carry nuclear weapons until 2016.

The Liberal Democrats have launched a government review into whether a “credible” alternative plan could provide a nuclear deterrent at a lower cost than the estimated £20 billion bill for a new submarine capability.[…]

Mr Clegg dismissed the idea of simply ordering a new fleet of nuclear-armed submarines as outdated and expensive.

“The idea of a like-for-like, entirely unchanged replacement of Trident is basically saying we will spend billions and billions and billions of pounds on a nuclear missile system designed with the sole strategic purpose of flattening Moscow at the press of a button,” he said. “I think some people are jumping the gun on this Trident decision.

“The coalition agreement is crystal clear – it will not be changed, it will not be undermined, it will not be contradicted.

“The final decision on Trident replacement will not be taken until 2016, however much other people may not like it that way.”

[…]

“Our continuous submarine-based nuclear deterrent is the ultimate safeguard of our national security and the government is committed to maintaining it, both now and in the future,” the Defence Secretary said.

“This latest expenditure for the next generation of nuclear-armed submarines is an investment in UK security and the British economy, sustaining high-quality jobs and vital skills.”

Mr Hammond insisted that the government’s position on Trident was “very clear”.

“We are committed to maintaining a continuous deterrent, based on the Trident missile,” he said. “There was a vote in Parliament in 2007 where there was an overwhelming majority for replacing the Vanguard submarines when they go out of service.”

[…]

This review, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year or early in 2013, will “inform” the main decision on submarine construction in 2016, one year after the next election.

“In the meantime, we are pressing ahead with the design and development work,” Mr Hammond said.

[…]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9640788/Nick-Clegg-warns-Philip-Hammond-over-Trident-nuclear-missile-plan.html

Independent Scotland would demand removal of Trident nuclear base

Nuclear weapons ‘outlawed’ in an independent Scotland, says Salmond, BBC News  21 Oct 12, The leader of the SNP has said that if his party won power in an independent government it would make nuclear weapons illegal.

Alex Salmond told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that Trident, which currently resides at Faslane Naval base on the Clyde, would have to go.

He also said a go-alone Scotland would remain a member of the European Union….. He said: “The UK government has two choices – they either relocate Trident to another part of the rest of the UK or alternatively they could use nuclear facilities in America or France.”

Mr Salmond made a further point that it was possible for a UK government to decide a “much better policy” and decommission its weapons system…..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20020839

Nick Clegg says a Lib Dem review into alternatives for Trident will continue despite a pledge of £350m for future designs.

4:00pm UK, Monday 29 October 2012

[…]

“The Scottish Government needs to explain how their policy would benefit Scotland’s economy and safeguard Scottish jobs.”

The announcement follows the successful firing of an unarmed Trident ballistic missile by HMS Vigilant during a test launch in the Atlantic Ocean last week.

HMS Vigilant is one of four Vanguard Class submarines which maintain the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

The Vanguard submarines will be replaced from 2028 by the Successor which iscurrently being designed by British companies.

As a result of Mr Hammond’s announcement, BAE Systems will proceed with an additional £315m worth of work.

A further £38m will be carried out by engineering support services company Babcock.

SNP MSP Bill Kidd attacked the move and accused Mr Hammond of using “fantasy figures” relating to the number of jobs dependent on the nuclear weapons system at Faslane.

He said: “For the UK Government to boast about spending hundreds of millions of pounds on weapons of mass destruction – while at the same time implementing brutal welfare cuts and slashing investment in the economy – is obscene.

“More than that, Philip Hammond’s weak attack on the Scottish people’s choice in the independence referendum continues to use fantasy figures relating to the number of jobs associated with Trident at Faslane.

“His own Ministry’s figures obtained through FoI show that there are not thousands of jobs dependent on the nuclear weapons system but 520 – all of which and more will be taken up by Faslane continuing as the main Scottish naval base.”

[…]

http://news.sky.com/story/1004031/cash-boost-for-nuclear-subs-stokes-trident-row

Nuclear Catastrophy Review & how YOU can Help Video Prof Chris Busby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGeaMG9EPmA

Published on Aug 23, 2012 by arclight2011