§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how frequently the Clyde safety scheme is tested; and if he will detail the range of possible nuclear reactor accident scenarios under which this testing is carried out.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe Clyde area public safety scheme is exercised four times a year. In addition, there is a major field exercise every three years. These exercises envisage a range of accidents greater than the maximum design accident in order to examine the consequences outside the naval base of such accidents.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the details of the basis for the Royal Navy's estimates of the probability of nuclear reactor accidents on the Clyde.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonNo, but we judge that the possibility of an accident involving a defence nuclear reactor giving rise to a release of radioactivity is extremely remote.