Nuclear security

Nuclear deterrent needed to 'preserve national security'

RENEWING Britain's nuclear deterrent is needed to "preserve the ultimate safeguard of our national security", the government has argued.

Peers heard the cost of replacing the four ageing Trident submarines which carried the nuclear weapons system amounted to 20p in every £100 the government spent.

Defence minister Earl Howe said: "I believe that this is a price worth paying to keep our country safe."

He was speaking as the House of Lords debated maintaining the UK's continuous at sea deterrent, ahead of a vote by MPs on July 18.

Lord Howe described the nuclear deterrent as the "ultimate guarantor of our national security and way of life".

He added: "Our nuclear deterrent kept us and our Nato allies safe for the duration of the Cold War and it continues to do so in this post-Cold War era.

"That's why this Government is committed to building four new ballistic missile submarines to replace our ageing Vanguard fleet."