HC Deb 13 March 1968 vol 760 c316W
Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details, for the information of the public, of the various risks of nuclear weapons of any kind being used or exploded by accident.

Mr. Healey

There is no risk of a nuclear weapon being used accidentally. In the unlikely event of a weapon being involved in an accident, there would be no danger of a nuclear explosion. At worst there would be the detonation or burning of ordinary high explosives resulting in some radioactive contamination in the immediate vicinity. This would be dealt with by specially trained Service safety teams operating in support of the police and fire services.