Dr Julian Lewis: Can the Secretary of State confirm whether any future nuclear deterrent that involved reliance on nuclear-armed cruise missiles, as some recommend, would be compatible with the provisions of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty?

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): As the hon. Gentleman knows, we considered different methods of maintaining the nuclear deterrent during the White Paper process. We decided – I think for good reasons of invulnerability – to stick with the ballistic missile system based on submarines. That is what we intend to do.]