STORY
The Government has announced an £8.4 billion investment to advance the next phase of the United Kingdom’s next generation nuclear deterrent submarine programme. Ministers said the funding would support national security while providing work for British industry and its supply chain.
The investment will be used to progress construction and associated development work on the submarines that will eventually replace the Vanguard class. The Ministry of Defence said the programme is intended to maintain the United Kingdom’s continuous at sea deterrent for the decades ahead.
The Government said the programme would sustain specialist engineering, manufacturing and shipbuilding employment in several parts of the country. Expenditure will remain subject to the programme’s existing oversight, procurement and parliamentary accountability arrangements.