§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the objectives, operation and staffing of his Department's nuclear accident response organisation;
(2) what liaison exists between his Department and (a) the United States of America and (b) other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries in the organisation of nuclear weapons accident training.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the precise objectives of the nuclear accident response organisation, the number of people employed, the qualifications of the managers, the links with similar United States organisations and the date when it was established.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe aim of the MOD nuclear accident response organisation is to ensure, in conjunction with appropriate civil agencies, an effective response to safeguard the general public and MOD personnel in the unlikely event of an emergency involving defence nuclear materials. As well as staff in MOD headquarters, it draws upon a range of skills from units and establishments across the armed forces and Ministry of Defence in order to meet the particular circumstances of an accident. It maintains close links with other interested agencies, including those in the United States and other NATO countries, involving joint training and exercises where appropriate. Safety arrangements to deal with a range of accidents have existed for as long as the MOD has used nuclear material.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the nuclear accident response organisation has simulated accidents to American nuclear weapons in Britain; what reports have been made; if the reports will be placed in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartIt is our practice not reveal specific details of exercises involving the nuclear accident response organisation. Reports on nuclear weapon accident exercises are classified and cannot be made public. There is, however, good liaison between the United Kingdom and United States nuclear accident response staffs, including joint training and exercises.