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France: Nuclear Weapons

Question for Ministry of Defence

UIN 181211, tabled on 18 October 2018

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money has been spent by the UK on the joint French-UK Teutates project; whether that money is taken from the Nuclear Weapons Capability Sustainment Programme budget; and what estimate he has made of (a) the total cost to the UK of the project and (b) the timescale over which that cost is expected to be spread.

Answered on

25 October 2018

In accordance with the TEUTATES Treaty, the building, operating and dismantling costs will be shared equitably between the UK and France. UK funding forms part of the Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme budget.

The Treaty will remain in force for the lifetime of the facilities. Further details are being withheld as their release would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and other States and constitute a breach of confidence.