weapons; trident

As Scotland faces the first funding cut since devolution as a result of cuts in the English health budget imposed by the Chancellor, SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP has rounded on the UK Government over its economic priorities as a report by Greenpeace reveals that the cost of renewing the Trident nuclear weapons system will total more than £97bn.

The Prime Minister has been branded inconsistent on nuclear non-proliferation after publishing a written statement on countering proliferation and reducing weapons arsenals while simultaneously preparing to sign-off £2bn in design contracts for Trident replacement in September.

The Prime Minister has been accused of inconsistency on nuclear arms limitation and urged to rule-out imminent commitments on the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system expected to be signed-off during the parliamentary recess.

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, has seized on revelations that the cost of replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system is to soar by an extra £100 million this year because the missile being designed in the US may be the wrong size.