Atomic Weapons Establishment, Burghfield

HC Deb 10 January 1989 vol 144 c535W

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy to publish the results of any investigation into the causes of the explosion at the atomic weapons establishment at Burghfield on 2 December; whether any work was carried out to improve the safety of the area in which the explosion occurred as a result of the report by Sir Edward Pochin in 1978; and when was the last time that the area in which the explosion occurred was tested for its safety of operation;

(2) whether the incineration of conventional explosives at the atomic weapons establishment at Burghfield has now been suspended.

Mr. Sainsbury

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 8 December for details of the explosion at AWE Burghfield. The Pochin inquiry of 1978 was concerned solely with the separate issue of the radiological safety of certain buildings at the Aldermaston site.