Ministry of Defence to give evidence on UK’s nuclear deterrence capabilities

Tomorrow the House of Lords International Agreements Committee will be hearing evidence from Ministry of Defence officials about the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent. 

Giving evidence will be:

• Joe Pitt-Rashid -Director of Strategy and Policy for the Defence Nuclear Organisation at Ministry of Defence 
• Roland Knott - Deputy Director Warhead Capability at Ministry of Defence

• Commodore Paul Carter - Deputy Director AUKUS Programme at Ministry of Defence  

Issues likely to be raised by Committee members include:  

• The significance of the UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA) to the UK's nuclear deterrence capabilities 

• Implications of the key amendments, including allowing the UK to transfer materials and equipment for naval nuclear propulsion to the US  

• The rationale for removing the time limit of certain provisions and placing the MDA on an enduring basis    

• The UK's commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the development of UK-US nuclear defence relations  

• The impact of amendments on nuclear defence spending 

The session will take place on Tuesday 8 October 2024 at 4pm and can be followed live on Parliament TV.