§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential consequences for the local population of an accident to a nuclear weapons convoy.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIn view of the extensive safety arrangements involved in the design, construction, containerisation and transport of nuclear weapons, our assessment is that it is inconceivable that the impact which could occur in the worst type of road accident would be sufficient to lead to any release of radioactive contamination into the environment.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the risks of fission of nuclear materials carried in convoy along roads.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonFission occurs naturally and spontaneously in a number of radioactive substances. The nature, quantities and methods of transport for defence nuclear materials mean that we consider it impossible for this process to become critical by accident.