Defence Secretary welcomes vote on CASD
The Defence Secretary has welcomed the announcement that the Government will hold a full Parliamentary debate on the principle of Continuous at Sea Deterrence (CASD) on Monday 18th July 2016.
mage of HMS Vengeance returning to HMNB Clyde, after completing Operational Sea Training. The trials were conducted in Scottish exercise areas. HMS Vengeance is the fourth and final Vanguard-class submarine of the Royal Navy. Vengeance carries the Trident ballistic missile, the UK's nuclear deterrent.
The debate will allow Members of Parliament to discuss the long-term security of our citizens and future Government’s ability to protect the nation and its vital interests.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
Our nuclear deterrent provides the ultimate guarantee of our security and our way of life.
This vote is about continuing to protect the UK from extreme threats in the 2030s, 2040s, and 2050s. I hope that all MPs elected on manifestos that supported the deterrent will vote to do so.
This is no time to gamble with our security.
Our nuclear deterrent keeps us secure by deterring the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life. Recent global events have shown that we cannot relax our guard or fully predict future threats that would put us, or our NATO allies, under grave threat.
The Government was elected on a manifesto to maintain CASD, as well as to build four ‘Successor’ submarines, which will replace the current Vanguard class fleet, and the debate fulfils the Government’s 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review commitment to hold a parliamentary debate.
You can read the Secretary of State’s recent speech on the nuclear deterrent here and find out more about CASD here.