§ 18. Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the role of emergency planning units in relation to the operation of the British nuclear submarine fleet and Royal Navy procedures for dealing with a nuclear submarine accident in a near port.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe response to a serious accident involving the reactor of a Royal Navy submarine in or near port would be a joint one, including local authority emergency planning units, the Ministry of Defence nuclear accident response organisation, the civil emergency services, and other government departments. The procedures for dealing with accidents are discussed in local liaison committees by the various authorities involved, and are embodied in public and special safety schemes.
§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear-powered submarines are currently held by Warsaw Pact and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries; at what rate these stocks are being increased; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThere are currently 210 nuclear-powered submarines in service with the Warsaw Pact and 165 with NATO. Since 1980, NATO and Warsaw Pact production rates for nuclear-powered submarines have been broadly similar, averaging five to six vessels per year.