Seizing on reports of a dispute between the Treasury and Ministry of Defence over who will pay for Trident renewal, SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said the battle underlined how renewal of the nuclear weapons scheme was unaffordable, and warned over the threat to spending on conventional defence equipment.

It is understood the Treasury expects the bulk of the £100bn capital expenditure for Trident to now come out of the Ministry of Defence's

(MoD) core budget – a move that would have serious implications for defence spending in conventional areas.

Mr Robertson said:

“This is the kind of waste of money the SNP highlighted at the recent election. Absorbing the cost of Trident into the core defence budget would either have a devastating impact for spending on conventional forces, which are already overstretched, or just lead to more damaging cuts. The implications of this dispute could not be more serious and totally change the context of the current strategic defence review.

“The strategic review is about choices for the future and prioritising our defence needs in a changed world. Conventional forces, which have already been cut back, should not be forced to compete with Trident for resources.

“Anyway that you look at it; on moral, economic or political grounds, renewal of these weapons of mass destruction is untenable.

“The SNP believe it should be scrapped and more so, at a time when public spending faces savage cuts across the board, the time has come to accept that Trident can no longer be treated as some sacred cow.

“The majority of Scots oppose Trident along with the Scottish Parliament and civil society. In these financially difficult times why should Scots pay for the London parties' obsession with weapons of mass destruction?”

Note:

Reports of the dispute can be found in the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/91b47260-9052-11df-ad26-00144feab49a.html