A British government minister has confirmed that seven more Trident missiles have been ordered from the United States. In a parliamentary written answer Lord Gilbert said:
"Consistent with our policy of maintaining a four-boat Trident fleet, we have concluded that the planned US Fiscal Year 1998 order for seven further Trident missile bodies should go ahead. This will bring the total number of Trident missiles purchased or ordered by the UK to 58" (House of Lords, 14 Oct 1997, Column WA173)
Scottish CND has obtained a detailed breakdown of the £170 million order from the United States Navy.
This is money which could have been diverted to give further assistance to the NHS, particularly in the light of claims that the Health Service in Scotland has not received its fair share of the recently announced extra £300 million.
Lord Gilbert also reported that he had been present when two Trident missiles had been fired from HMS Vigilant last week. These deadly fireworks cost the British taxpayer a further £20 million each.
Tony Southall, Joint Secretary, Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said:
"Instead of spending £170 million on yet more weapons of mass destruction, our government should have diverted this money to caring for vulnerable patients in hospital over the winter. This order should be cancelled now as the first step towards scrapping Trident."
John McAllion, MP for Dundee East, has previously asked questions in the House of Commons about plans to order more missiles. He said today:
"This preempts the comprehensive Strategic Defence Review which is currently underway. There is a growing view within the Labour Party that Trident does not meet any of Britain’s real defence needs. I can see no case for ordering more missiles."