§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what detailed information is available to the population of Merseyside on the consequences of an accident involving a nuclear reactor on the nuclear-powered submarines using the port of Liverpool.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe Liverpool special safety scheme contains information on the possible consequences of accidents involving reactors on nuclear-powered submarines. Copies of the scheme are held by local civil authorities, and it is being distributed to public libraries in the area.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for the disposal of nuclear material arising from an accident to a nuclear submarine in or around the port of Liverpool.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe possibility of an accident involving a release of nuclear material from a submarine is extremely remote. However, our accident response plans do allow for such an occurrence, and for the controlled monitoring and decontamination of affected areas. Disposal methods would vary depending on the type and amount of materials involved.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what incidents have been reported in the past 10 years involving nuclear submarines coming in to the port of Liverpool.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThere has never been an incident involving a Royal Navy submarine which has led to a radiological hazard to service men or members of the public. No nuclear submarines of other navies have visited Liverpool during this period.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries by order of either national or local government to his Department's knowledge forbid the docking of nuclear submarines at ports near high population urban areas; and which countries forbid completely the entry of nuclear submarines into their waters.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe Ministry of Defence does not maintain a list of countries which make such prohibitions.