HC Deb 22 June 1960 vol 625 c32W
Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Defence what safety measures and procedures have been prepared and practised on rocket sites and other places where nuclear weapons are stored to prevent a nuclear explosion in case of fire; and what study is being made by his Department of information made available by the United States Government regarding the accident at the McGuire base, New Jersey, United States of America, on 7th June.

Mr. Watkinson

Wherever nuclear weapons are stored, stringent precautions are taken to prevent fires and to avoid a nuclear weapon being involved in a fire. In any case I am advised that the design of all nuclear weapons held in this country is such that even if they were involved in a fire the possibility of a nuclear explosion is negligible.

Information made available by the United States Government on the recent incident at the McGuire base will be studied carefully when received.