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Trident vote due 'early in 2007' Trident vote due 'early in 2007'
(about 1 hour later)
MPs will vote early in 2007 on whether Britain's nuclear weapons system should be replaced, Downing Street has said.MPs will vote early in 2007 on whether Britain's nuclear weapons system should be replaced, Downing Street has said.
Ministers are to outline their favoured option - expected to be to replace the Trident weapons system - in a White Paper to be published in December. Ministers are to outline their favoured option - expected to be to replace the Trident weapons system - in a white paper to be published in December.
The vote will then follow a three month public consultation on that plan. The vote will follow a three-month consultation on the plans, which were discussed at Thursday's Cabinet.
Ministers say a decision needs to be taken now to ensure any replacement is ready for the scheduled end of the Trident system's life in 2024. Ministers want a quick decision to ensure any replacement is ready when Trident's working life ends in 2024.
Anti-nuclear campaigners say they fear a decision has already been taken on Trident's future. Asked if the decision was being pushed through too quickly, Commons leader Jack Straw told MPs: "It is the government's judgement that it is necessary to make a decision, and there is no suggestion whatsoever of this decision being rushed."
Ministers discussed the issue at length for the first time during their Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Defence 'essential'Defence 'essential'
Britain has 16 Trident missiles, based on four nuclear submarines, providing a total of 200 warheads. It remains unclear whether MPs will just have a vote on the principle of retaining nuclear weapons, or whether they will have a wider vote on options such as updating Trident.
Mr Blair told MPs on Wednesday it was "important" the UK maintained its independent nuclear weapons system. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown - widely expected to be his successor - have both indicated their support for retaining an independent nuclear weapons system.
TRIDENT MISSILE SYSTEM Missile length: 44ft (13m)Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)Diameter: 74 inches (1.9m)Range: More than 4,600 miles (7,400km)Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocketCost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile Source: Federation of American Scientists How Trident worksTRIDENT MISSILE SYSTEM Missile length: 44ft (13m)Weight: 130,000lb (58,500kg)Diameter: 74 inches (1.9m)Range: More than 4,600 miles (7,400km)Power plant: Three stage solid propellant rocketCost: £16.8m ($29.1m) per missile Source: Federation of American Scientists How Trident works
He has said before it was an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself. Mr Blair has said they were an essential part of Britain's ability to defend itself.
His most likely successor, Gordon Brown, has also indicated he backs the UK keeping its own nuclear weapons system. Supporters argue Trident is needed to deter any threat - particularly at a time when countries like North Korea and Iran harbour their own nuclear ambitions.
Supporters say Trident is needed to to deter any threat - particularly at a time when countries like North Korea and Iran harbour their own nuclear ambitions. The Conservatives also back retaining nuclear weapons, while the Liberal Democrats have called for a wider vote on the options.
But critics say the cost of replacing Trident - estimated at up to £25bn - would be better spent elsewhere, particularly as nuclear weapons would be useless in the fight against international terrorism. CND concerns
Cabinet pressure Britain has 16 Trident missiles, based on four nuclear submarines, providing a total of 200 warheads.
MPs on the Commons defence committee, who are looking at the issue, are also considering a "middle way" of overhauling, rather than replacing, the submarine fleet carrying the US-made Trident missiles. Defence minister Lord Drayson told a Commons committee this week that the white paper would look at whether to keep a submarine-based system or change to a land-based or aircraft-based system.
Labour MP Kevan Jones said the US was extending the life of its submarines up to 2042 - which meant a decision on replacement was not needed until the mid 2020s. MPs on that Commons defence committee, who are looking at the issue, are also considering a "middle way" of overhauling, rather than replacing, the submarine fleet carrying the US-made Trident missiles.
Defence minister Lord Drayson said earlier this week the White Paper would look at whether to replace the current submarine-based missiles with a land-based or aircraft-based system. Anti-nuclear campaigners say they fear the government has already decided to go ahead with replacing Trident.
It would set out options, including highlighting the government's preferred one. Critics say the cost of replacing Trident - estimated at up to £25bn - would be better spent elsewhere, particularly as nuclear weapons would be useless in the fight against international terrorism.
But campaigners say they fear the government has already decided to go-ahead with replacing Trident.
Kate Hudson, chairman of CND - the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament - said a White Paper could "close down" the wider debate.Kate Hudson, chairman of CND - the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament - said a White Paper could "close down" the wider debate.