Sub-critical Nuclear Tests

HL Deb 23 June 1999 vol 602 cc88-9WA

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they were informed about the series of underground "sub-critical" nuclear tests, not subject to the nuclear weapons test ban, conducted by the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Ministry of Defence at Novaya Zemlya last autumn and to be conducted again this year; whether the United States is conducting similar weapon tests; and whether United Kingdom nuclear weapons are also being tested in this manner. [HL2850]

Lord Burlison

Her Majesty's Government were not informed by the Russian authorities about sub-critical nuclear tests last autumn or tests to be conducted this year. Details did however become public in the course of briefings to Russian media representatives in December 1998 and January this year. US tests are matters for the US authorities. The UK's nuclear weapons are not being tested in this manner. However, we do not rule out the need to conduct at some future stage small-scale experiments to ensure the safety and reliability of our Trident warheads. Such experiments will of course be consistent with our international treaty obligations.