Oral Question·Ministry of Defence
“What steps he is taking to ensure the autonomy of the UK's nuclear deterrent.”
Tabled: 27 January 2026Answered: 2 February 2026
Asked by
Cameron Thomas
Independent — Tewkesbury
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Defence
Answer from Hansard
The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard)
The United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent is completely operationally independent—only the Prime Minister can authorise the firing of the UK’s nuclear weapons, even if they are deployed as part of a wider NATO response—and £15 billion is being invested in the sovereign warhead programme over the course of this Parliament.