§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether United Kingdom citizens are permitted access(a) to board Polaris submarines, (b) to visit the Faslane royal naval base and (c) to the Trident nuclear submarine base under construction at Coulport; whether any foreign nationals of countries (i) which are NATO member states and (ii) which are outside NATO have been permitted to visit British nuclear submarines and bases during the past month; and what criteria are adopted to permit visits to such submarines and bases.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonVisits by both United Kingdom and foreign non-entitled personnel to service units and382W establishments, including vists to nuclear submarines and their shore support facilities, are considered on a case by case basis. The only visit by non-NATO nationals to the Clyde submarine base, including a visit to an alongside Polaris submarine, in the last month was by General Lobov. The criterion by which requests for all visits is judged is whether such a visit will assist in meeting defence or foreign policy objectives.