§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the nuclear accident response organisation was set up; and how many units within his Department report to it. [11828]
§ Mr. SpellarA nuclear accident response capability has been in existence since the 1950s, when my Department began to use nuclear material. This capability470W has been developed over time into what is now known as the MOD Nuclear Accident Response Organisation. This organisation would draw on skills from a range of units across the armed forces and the MOD.
§ Mr. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department plans to hold the next exercise to test procedures for dealing with accidents involving nuclear weapons on British territory; where this exercise will be held; and what is the title of this exercise. [11947]
§ Mr SpellarThenext exercise—Exercise Senator 97—to test procedures in the event of an accident involving nuclear weapons on British territory, will be held between 22 and 26 September 1997 in conjunction with the authorities in Lincolnshire. Details of the exercise will be sent in the normal way to the hon. Members in whose constituencies the exercise will occur.
§ Mr. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make public reports of exercises held to test his Department's procedures for dealing with an accident involving nuclear weapons on British territory [11946]
§ Mr. SpellarThe reports of exercises held to test the Department's procedures for dealing with an accident involving nuclear weapons are classified or management in confidence documents. Making these reports public could affect the candour with which participants comment on experience and undermine the value of the exercises. We are considering, in consultation with all participating agencies, whether a summary of exercise activities should be publicly available on request.
§ Mr. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the members of the nuclear weapons safety committee, indicating the Government Departments and organisations they represent. [11948]
§ Mr. SpellarThe members of the nuclear weapon safety committee are as follows:
- Professor Sir John Cadogan CBE FRSE HON FEng FRS (Chairman)
- Professor R.J. Berry RD FRCP FRCR FFOM
- Professor R.H. Clarke
- Mr. H.J. Dunster CB
- Dr. B. Edmondson
- Dr. B.L. Eyre CBE FEng
- Mr. D.C. Fakley OBE
- Professor J. E. Field OBE FRS
- Rear Admiral J. S. Grove CB OBE RN Retired
- Sir John Hill FEng FRS
- Mr. P.G.E.F. Jones CB
- Dr. F.H. Panton CBE
Members are invited to serve on the committee in their own right as acknowledged experts in the nuclear field. As such, they do not represent any particular organisations or Government Departments. They are assisted by officials from my Department who also attend meetings as and when necessary.
§ Mr. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines for service personnel he has drawn up on how to fight fires involving nuclear weapons; when the latest version of these were issued; and how many versions have been issued since 1967. [11958]
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§ Mr. SpellarInstructions to service personnel on fighting fires involving nuclear weapons are contained in various service publications, which are updated as necessary. The key principles in these instructions are the same as the guidelines issued to civilian fire service personnel in the "local authority and emergency service information on nuclear weapon transport contingency plans"—the LAESI document a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many exercises have been held since January 1996 to test his Department's procedures for dealing with an accident involving nuclear weapons on British territory; what were the names of these exercises; and where and when they were held. [11884]
§ Mr. SpellarThe following medium and major nuclear weapon accident exercises have been held since January 1996:
align="center">Nuclear weapon accident exercises since January 1996 Date Name Location February 1996 Running Fox Hampshire April 1996 1Standardisation Wiltshire May 1996 Senator 96 Northumberland June 1996 Running Fox Hampshire September 1996 Bowline Argyll and Bute October 1996 1Standardisation Oxfordshire October 1996 1Standardisation Suffolk November 1996 1Standardisation South Glamorgan March 1997 1Standardisation Norfolk April 1997 1Standardisation Wiltshire June 1997 1Standardisation West Yorkshire 1 Standardisation exercises test the RAF immediate response force teams for the transportation of nuclear weapons. Information regarding minor exercises, organised at unit level is not held centrally.