§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by his Department for the purpose of checking for aging and obsolescence in the reliability of the United Kingdom's stockpile of nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. LeeIt has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal details of those engaged on the defence nuclear programme.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been his Department's expenditure on checking for aging and obsolescence in the reliability of Her Majesty's stockpile of nuclear weapons in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. LeeIt has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal details of the cost of the defence nuclear programme.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he has received from the Department of Defence of the United States of America on the technical problems connected with checking for aging and obsolescence in the reliability of the United Kingdom's stockpile of nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. LeeDetails of exchanges between the United Kingdom and the United States Governments on nuclear issues are classified and cannot be revealed.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if any of the safety devices on nuclear weapons are operated by nuclear fission; what testing of conventional safety devices on such weapons takes place and at what intervals; if any such testing takes place in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. LeeDetails of the design and operation of nuclear warheads cannot be revealed on the grounds of national security.