§ Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Defence what exchange of information has taken place between his Department and the United States Navy regarding operational and experimental experience of nuclear reactors for nuclear-powered submarines.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonExchanges with the United States of information concerning military aspects of nuclear technology are made under the aegis of the 1958 "Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for, Mutual Defence Purposes".
For reasons of national security, I cannot give details of specific items of information exchanged.
§ Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the ranks, experience and qualifications of Royal Navy personnel selected to operate and supervise PWR-type nuclear reactors in Her Majesty's submarines.
§ Mr. FreemanThe operation of nuclear reactors in Her Majesty's submarines is supervised by officers of the rank of commander, lieutenant commander or lieutenant and senior ratings of the rank of warrant officer or charge chief petty officer. Operators are chief petty officers and petty officers.
Officers require a B Eng honours degree and senior ratings must have completed a four year artificer apprenticeship. In addition, the following specific nuclear qualifications and experience are required:
Officers
- —Nuclear Reactor Course
- —Officers' Nuclear Operator Course
- —A minimum of 3 months on-board experience, during which the officer must qualify in all watchkeeping positions, and pass a "Flotilla Board", consisting of
690 nuclear qualified and approved officers, to qualify for an Engineer Officers' Nuclear Watchkeeping Certificate. Warrant Officers and Charge Chiefs
- —Nuclear Propulsion Short Course
- —Nuclear Propulsion Long Course
- —Over 6 months' operating experience and success at a Flotilla Board.
Chief Petty Officers
- —Nuclear Propulsion Short Course
- —Nuclear Propulsion Long Course
- —Over 3 months' operating experience and success at a Ship Board consisting of nuclear qualified officers
Petty Officers
- —Nuclear Propulsion Short Course
- —8 weeks' on-board training.
§ Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of the PWR mark II reactor currently being installed at HMS Vulcan, if he will state (a) the expected date of criticality, (b) the expected date of full commissioning and (c) the number of years' operating experience intended before a similar reactor is installed in one of Her Majesty's submarines.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe expected date of criticality is mid-1987 and full commissioning should follow within a few months.
We plan to operate the prototype reactor for approximately four years before a similar reactor is used in a submarine.
§ Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Defence when, in respect of the PWR mark I reactor unit formerly operating at HMS Vulcan (a) the reactor first become critical and (b) commissioning was completed; how many years' operating experience have to be gained by Royal Navy personnel before being permitted to operate such a reactor in one of Her Majesty's submarines; and when the reactor unit was shut down.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe reactor first went critical in January 1965 and commissioning was completed in February 1965. The reactor was shut down in July 1984.
An operator is usually expected to spend a minimum of 15 months training, of which 12 months are spent in the classroom and simulators. At least 3 months is then spent at sea training in a nuclear submarine under experienced supervision.