HC Deb 26 November 1985 vol 87 cc740-1
12. Mr. Janner

askd the Secretary of State for Defence how many road accidents have occurred in the last year on roads in the United Kingdom which involved a vehicle carrying nuclear weapons.

Mr. Stanley

It has been the practice of successive Governments, for security reasons, not to comment on the methods of transporting nuclear weapons.

Mr. Janner

I am not asking about the methods of transportation. Why are the Government not prepared to give any information about accidents involving the transport of nuclear weapons, and in particular about the incident in Scotland on 20 June? Is the Minister aware that the results of the Ministry of Defence inquiry into that accident have not been made public and that there has been no inquiry whatever by the Strathclyde police?

Mr. Stanley

I should have thought it was obvious that if the Ministry of Defence gave details of accidents involving nuclear weapons it would be disclosing the methods of transportation.