Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what statute the Government will appoint a management contractor to run the atomic weapons establishment.
§ Mr. NeubertNo specific statutory authority is necesssary for the appointment of the initial management contractor at AWE by Government contract following selection by competion.
527W
Mr. O'NeillTo as the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current annual labour costs of the atomic weapons research establishments at (a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield, (c) Cardiff and (d) Foulness.
§ Mr. NeubertFor security reasons, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to release information of this nature.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average length of service of (a) administrative, executive and clerical staff, (b) specialist staff, (c) industrial-craft staff and (d) industrial non-craft staff at the atomic weapons establishment site at Aldermaston.
§ Mr. NeubertThe average length of service of staff at AWE Aldermaston is:
Industrials: 8 years. Non-industrials: 14 years. A more detailed breakdown is not readily available.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of (a) administrative, executive and clerical staff, (b) specialist staff, (c) industrial-craft staff and (d) industrial-non craft staff employed by the atomic weapons establishment.
§ Mr. NeubertIt is not our practice to disclose details of the number or deployment of staff employed on the nuclear programme.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of staff attached to the safety division of the atomic weapons establishment; and what is its current budget.
§ Mr. NeubertFor reasons of national security it has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal the number or deployment of staff employed at the atomic weapons establishment.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current shortfall in staff at the atomic weapons research establishments in Aldermaston in the following grades (a) administrative, executive and clerical staff, (b) specialist staff, (c) industrial-craft staff and (d) industrial-non craft staff.
§ Mr. NeubertThe current staff shortfalls at AWE Aldermaston broken down by category are as follows:
528W
Number Administrative, Executive and Clerical Grades 43 Specialist Staff 129 Craft Industrials 66 Non Craft Industrials 54
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount of overtime that has been paid out at the atomic weapons establishment sites at (a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield, (c) Cardiff and (d) Foulness.
§ Mr. NeubertThe total amount of overtime paid out at the AWE sites during 1988–89 is:
£ million Aldermaston 6.6 Burghfield 0.9 Cardiff 0.4 Foulness 0.5
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist for the retention of the safety division of the atomic weapons establishment after the introduction of private contractors at the atomic weapons establishment.
§ Mr. NeubertSafety will remain the highest priority. The detailed relationship between the existing safety division and the proposed compliance office is still under consideration.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the nature of the relationship between the chief executive of the atomic weapons establishment and the compliance director of that establishment under the Government's proposals for the future organisation of the atomic weapons establishment.
§ Mr. NeubertFollowing the appointment of the management contractor, it is planned that the compliance director will be responsible for advising the chief executive on environmental, safety and health requirements. In addition, the compliance director will be responsible to the Ministry of Defence on safety and security issues, with particular reference to the contractor's performance in these respects.