VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Submarines: Nuclear Weapons

Asked by Mike WoodConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 15 September 2025UIN 75029

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to p.6 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, if he will publish a breakdown of the associated costs for the sovereign warhead programme over this Parliament; and whether he expects that programme to be completed during this Parliament.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The £15 billion to be invested in this Parliament covers a range of programmes across the nuclear warhead portfolio to support the sovereign warhead. That investment includes sustaining our current Mk4A warhead; developing Astraea, our sovereign replacement warhead programme; and modernising the associated infrastructure, which will be completed beyond the current Parliament. Updates to Parliament will be provided in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise annual report.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim