Downing Street Says » Cabinet and Trident

The PMOS said that Cabinet had a preliminary discussion on the future of our independent nuclear deterrent and in particular so in the context of how to protect this country in an uncertain world in the next 20 to 50 years. The next step will be for a further Cabinet discussion with the publication of a white paper before Christmas; there will then follow a period of discussion and a debate in the House of Commons at a time agreed through the normal channels early next year; and the vote will be on a Government proposal contained in the white paper.

Asked to clarify the order and timings of things the PMOS confirmed that the white paper would be before Christmas, a period of discussion and then in the New Year a vote in the House of Commons on the proposals contained in the white paper. Asked if the white paper would contain lots of options or just one, the PMOS said as with all white papers the government would put forward its view and the House would then vote on that view. Asked if the option would be a detailed and costed or just ‘in principle’, the PMOS said that it would be a government view of what should happen. Asked if the vote would be on a principle or detailed proposals, the PMOS again replied that it would be a vote on the government’s view of what should happen. Asked if that meant it would be a government view of one particular option rather than a choice or options, the PMOS said the reporter had understood correctly.

Asked who had spoken at Cabinet this morning, the PMOS replied that there were many contributors but as always he would not detail who had spoken. Asked who opened the presentation, the PMOS said it had been the Defence Secretary. Asked to comment on any characterisation from the Secretary of States presentation and any comments from the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, the PMOS said the whole context of the discussion was an outline of the uncertain world that we would face in the next 20 to 50 years. Asked if the basis of the discussion was in line with the Labour Party manifesto, the PMOS said that was part of the premise on which the discussion was based. Asked if it was the Prime Minister who had given the preliminary outline, the PMOS said no it had been the Defence Secretary.

Asked if there had been unanimous agreement for the need to replace Trident, the PMOS said there was a good discussion, but what he would not do was pre-empt the white paper. Asked if Cabinet had been in one mind over the issue, the PMOS said that the time to answer those kinds of questions is whenever Cabinet has agreed a government position and we move forward. Asked when exactly the ‘New Year’ would be, the PMOS said that there would be a period of discussion but the timing of the vote would be agreed through the normal channels.

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned that if it was only the life of the current system was extended rather than replaced that the United Kingdom would lose vital skills and people, the PMOS said that he would not get into the detail as again the time to do this would be when the white paper is published.

Asked if there were any misgivings shown in Cabinet by the Foreign Secretary or Peter Hain, the PMOS said that he had not seen named sources for those particular stories and in terms of the government moving forward the time when people will speak on this is when the white paper is actually published.

Asked if was purely a politically driven process and decision or had people in the industry been consulted, the PMOS said when you see a white paper it will outline the analysis as well as the decisions that come from that analysis.

Asked if the white paper would be a white paper with a greenish tinge, the PMOS said no it would be a white paper.

Asked to summarise the Prime Minister’s view on Trident, the PMOS said that the position was that the time to actually express more about this is whenever the white paper is published. Asked to be more specific about the publication of the white paper, the PMOS said no, a full Cabinet discussion would take place and then the white paper would be published. Asked if the Treasury would be doing a rigorous costs analysis in advance of the white paper, the PMOS said that the white paper will take into account all relevant matters.

Asked how long Cabinet had been and how long the presentation by the Secretary of State for Defence’s presentation had been, the PMOS said that Cabinet discussions had lasted just over an hour and that Trident had been a substantial part of that discussion. Asked about the mood of the discussion, the PMOS said it had been a good discussion. Asked if had been a full and frank discussion, the PMOS said that no, it had been a good discussion.

3 Comments »

If I have understood this correctly, the white paper frames the terms of any debate in the near-future, as it is the white paper that will be voted on. This government has a democratic duty to allow a broad and well-informed public debate on Trident, as the decision of whether or not to replace it will affect generations to come, across the world. Therefore the government needs to instigate and pay careful attention to just such a debate, before engaging in a ‘full cabinet discussion’, so that the views of the nation can, as is meant to be the case in a democracy, be taken into account during the debate in parliament. The ‘full cabinet discussion’ which will lead to a government position and influence the white paper that will then be debated in full by our Parliament, must then include the feeling of the nation on this monumental decision.

And yes the treasury needs to do a full cost analysis, and yes each option, every option, needs to be weighed carefully, by the nation.
Comment by Jo Tyabji — 24 Nov 2006 on 10:01 am | Link
Democratic duty?! LMAO!!! Haven’t you got it yet? Democracy is just a word to convince people they have a choice. You don’t. You have no choice. You have owners. You’ll get what you’re given, laddie, and well you know it!!! :->
Comment by SmokeNMirrors — 24 Nov 2006 on 3:36 pm | Link
Amen, brother.
Comment by tasty macfadden — 12 Dec 2006 on 1:04 am | Link

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» Thursday, November 23, 2006

Cabinet and Trident

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