Press Release M-NAC- 2(2000)121 Report on Options for Confidence and Security Building Measures (CSBMs), Verification, Non-Prolife- ration, Arms Control and Disarmament December 2000

2. Developments over the Last Decade in the Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons Environment 2.2. Nuclear Weapons 2.2.1. Bilateral and National Developments     2.2.1.2. United Kingdom Reductions In the last decade, the UK has made a large number of important nuclear force reductions and other steps. Since 1992, it has given up the nuclear Lance missile and artillery roles it undertook previously with U.S. nuclear weapons held under dual-key arrangements. It has completed the dismantling of its maritime tactical nuclear weapons, so that Royal Navy surface ships no longer have the capability to carry or deploy nuclear weapons. It has withdrawn from service and dismantled all of its air-launched nuclear weapons, and it is currently dismantling the Chevaline warheads from its old force of Polaris submarines. In consequence, Trident is now the UK's only nuclear weapon system. In its 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the UK announced that it would maintain a reduced stockpile of fewer than 200 operationally available warheads, a reduction of more than 70 % in the UK deterrent's potential explosive power since the end of the Cold War. Only one Trident submarine will be on patrol at a time, at a reduced state of readiness - routinely at a "notice to fire" measured in days rather than the few minutes sustained throughout the Cold War - and carrying 50 % fewer warheads than the UK's previously announced ceiling. All U.K. Trident missiles have been de-targeted since May 1994. Since 1995, the UK has signed and ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, signed the Protocols to the Treaty of Pelindaba and signed and ratified the Protocols to the Treaty of Raratonga. The U.K. announced in 1995 that it had ceased the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. The UK has also declared the total size of its stocks of fissile material, placed fissile material no longer required for defence purposes under international safeguards; made all enrichment and reprocessing facilities in the UK liable to international inspection; and begun a national historic accounting for fissile material produced. The UK has begun a programme to develop its expertise in verifying the reduction and elimination of nuclear weapons. And the UK has provided 250 supercontainers and 20 heavy-duty trucks to assist in the safe and secure withdrawal of all the Soviet Union's nuclear weapons to the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as further nuclear safety, security and accountancy assistance to the States of the former Soviet Union. The UK has made clear that, when satisfied with progress towards the global elimination of nuclear weapons, its nuclear weapons will be included in multilateral negotiations.