PRESSURE is being mounted on Defence Secretary Michael Fallon to set a date for a Commons debate and vote on the successor to the Vanguard class Submarine, currently stationed at Faslane.

Fallon visited the Faslane facility recently to show support of the Government's support to the nuclear deterrent.

But now the Commons Defence Committee has written to the Minister, demanding he set a date for a debate on the vessels' future replacement.

A statement from the committee read as follows: "The Defence Committee has written to the Secretary of State for Defence to ask him to set a date for a Commons debate and vote on the successor to the Vanguard class Submarine.

"The Committee say there is an unacceptable level of uncertainty not only in Parliament but also in the submarine industry."

The letter talks about "growing concern" that a decision has yet to be made on the Vanguard Successor Programme and that the delay is causing an "unacceptable level of uncertainty."

The letter continued: "There is growing concern in the Defence Committee—and more widely in Parliament—that the Government has yet to set a date for the debate and vote on the Vanguard Successor Programme.

"This is causing an unacceptable level of uncertainty not only for Parliament, but for the main contractors and their supply chains.

"The Committee would be grateful for an indication of when this long-anticipated vote is to be held and an explanation of any reasons for not proceeding forthwith, now that the political obstacles which existed in the previous Parliament no longer apply."

An MOD spokesperson said: “The Government has confirmed it will hold a debate and vote in Parliament on the principle of Continuous at Sea Deterrence and our plans for Successor.

"A decision on when it will be held will be taken in due course.”

The class was introduced in 1994 as part of the UK government's Trident nuclear weapons programme.

The class includes four boats: Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance.

They were built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering between 1986 and 1999, which is now owned by BAE Systems.

All four subs are based at HM Naval Base Clyde.