I have to say that when the Chancellor said that Trident replacement costs would have to be borne by the Defence Budget, then I wondered what would happen if the MOD put Trident replacement up as a savings measure and stated that all of the conventional stuff provided a better "bang for buck" and that Trident replacement was not going to be funded in order to provide all of the other stuff we need. It is within the gift of the Defence Board.
Then it would be back to HMT and our glorious government to fund it, if that was policy. Now unfortunately the spineless bunch of politicians we have would say we need it and the Defence budget MUST fund it, therefore lots of other kit will be scrapped/not bought to pay for son of Trident. At least that way it would be a political not "military" decision.