Nuclear Submarines (Hansard, 18 May 1989)

§ Mr. John Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the amount spent by the Ministry 273W of Defence in each year since the start of the nuclear submarine programme on repairs as a result of fire aboard nuclear submarines.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
While there have been occasional fires aboard nuclear-powered submarines, it is not possible to identify separately all the repair costs attributable to this cause. However, in the vast majority of cases the fires were so minor that the sums involved would have been minimal in relation to the overall expenditure on submarine repairs or refits.

§ Mr. John Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the technical details on which his Department bases its evaluation of the consequences of a nuclear submarine accident in or near dock with regard to 550 m limits and radiation spread.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The predictions of consequences of accidents involving Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines are carried out by experts from both within and outside this Department, and are assessed by independent consultants. The technical information upon which the predictions are based cannot be released, since it would enable conclusions to be drawn about classified aspects of the design of submarine nuclear reactors.

§ Mr. John Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in theOfficial Report (a) all fires aboard nuclear submarines whilst in dock since the start of the nuclear submarine programme, (b) how these fires started, (c) the location of the fires within the submarine, (d) the time of day the fires started and how long they burned, (e) whether civilian police, fire services and ambulance services were informed, (f) under what conditions civil emergency personnel were allowed on board, (g) if there were any military or civilian casualties, (h) what inquiries were instigated into the cause and consequences of any fires, what subsequent recommendations were made, and which have been put into practice and (i) the guidelines governing the involvement of civilian fire personnel in fighting fires aboard nuclear submarines.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The majority of the detailed information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate effort and cost. I shall write to the hon. Member about the guidelines for the involvement of civil fire personnel in fighting fires aboard nuclear submarines.