Dr Julian Lewis: May I offer the Secretary of State [Dr. John Reid] some comfort? Despite the difficulties that the Prime Minister had with 45 minutes last year and 90 days last week, on this issue he can count on the support of the Opposition to back him up, in the belief that Britain needs to have nuclear weapons as long as other countries have them. He will get our support even if he cannot rely on the support of his own Back Benchers.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (John Reid): I am sure that that will be very helpful to me. I would point out that we had a manifesto that committed the Government to the retention of our independent, minimum nuclear deterrent.]