FINAL approval for the UK's Successor submarine programme WILL be given before parliament breaks for the summer recess, the Evening Mail can today reveal.
There has been speculation that the Brexit result in the EU referendum and turmoil in both the opposition and the government could delay the parliamentary vote on the four submarines from July until later in the year. But the decision looks set to be made before the MPs break on July 21.
Approval would support thousands of jobs in Barrow shipyard designing and building successor class submarines, and also in supply chain companies.
Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, who chairs the Backbench Defence Committee, questioned the successor timetable with defence secretary Michael Fallon on Monday in the House of Commons.
Mr Fallon said: "There are those who are opposed in principle, but there is clearly such a majority in this house. I believe that it is right that this house should vote on the principle of the renewal of the deterrent, and I very much hope that he will not have too much longer to wait."
READ MORE: Barrow shipyard campaigners could be handed a boost by new Trident report
Mr Woodcock then sought further reassurance from within the government, which he received.
He said:“There has obviously been a considerable amount of concern that the Brexit shock will delay parliamentary approval for the Successor submarine programme but I was pleased by the defence secretary’s upbeat response to my question about the successor timetable in the House of Commons.
"I have since been given private reassurance by a senior government figure and am confident the plan remains to bring the vote before the summer recess at the end of July. There is a cast-iron majority for Trident renewal whenever it comes in this parliament, but it will be good to give the programme the parliamentary stamp of approval like this.”
ASSURANCES GIVEN BY DEFENCE CHIEF
NUCLEAR PLAN 'UNAFFECTED'
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