§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place to ensure safety systems are followed at HM naval bases where private enterprise is involved in the maintenance and repair of nuclear submarines. [131551]
§ Mr. IngramStandards of safety in the maintenance and repair of nuclear submarines are ensured by the appointment of Radiation Protection Supervisors as defined by the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRRs99). These Radiation Protection Supervisors ensure that the legally mandated local rules, written by the MOD or site operator as appropriate, are adhered to. The Naval Base Commanders employ Radiation Protection Advisers and Radiation Safety Officers to provide assurance and advice that these safety systems are being observed. In addition, MOD's internal regulatory body provides assurance on nuclear safety to senior functional safety boards and the independent Defence Nuclear Safety Committee. The Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installation Inspectorate (NII) also regulates MOD activities under IRRs99.
§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether personal monitors of the IPM7 type are mandatory for all nuclear submarine radiation workers; [131547]
(2) what plans he has to improve the safety of workers on nuclear submarines; [131548]
(3) when the equipment used to monitor personnel leaving reactor compartments of nuclear submarines was last updated; and if he will make a statement. [131549]
245W
§ Mr. IngramIPM-7 type detectors are not suitable for use onboard submarines due to space constraints. Alternative procedures are therefore in place to ensure all personnel are thoroughly monitored for contamination on completion of their work before going ashore.
The safety regime for workers on nuclear submarines complies fully with legal requirements. Safety arrangements are regularly audited and inspected by naval base assurance personnel and regulated by both MOD's internal nuclear propulsion programme regulator and the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII). As a responsible employer the MOD acts immediately on any advice or findings from these audits and inspections. The Department strives to adopt best industry practice and continues to invest in improvements in all forms of personal radiation monitoring equipment in order to ensure that all workers exposures are kept as low as is reasonably practicable.
A programme to replace the existing equipment used to monitor personnel leaving reactor compartments of nuclear submarines is currently under way. It is planned to start issuing the new equipment to submarines from October this year. This adds to the modern monitoring equipment that was introduced by the naval bases during the 1990s.