*2007 vote on Trident replacement*
Press Association
*Thursday November 23, 2006 12:03 PM*
Parliament will vote on the possibility of a replacement for the Trident nuclear deterrent systems early next year, it has been announced.
The Government will bring forward a White Paper on the issue before Christmas, which will then be followed by a "period of debate", the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
Asked whether the Commons would be presented with a range of options concerning the deterrent strategy, the spokesman added: "The Government will put forward its views and the House will vote on that view."
The Cabinet was said to have had a "good discussion" on the Trident issue this morning, lasting for nearly an hour.
Defence Secretary Des Browne opened the meeting with a presentation, before Tony Blair and other ministers made contributions.
The spokesman refused to comment on reports that some senior Cabinet ministers had concerns over plans for replacing Trident, insisting that the time for detailed discussion would come after the White Paper was published.
Both Mr Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown – widely seen as his successor – are believed to support maintaining a nuclear deterrent.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6234927,00.html <http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6234927,00.html>