§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the membership of the Nuclear Powered Warship Safety Committee and what reports the committee has made.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (The Earl of Arran)The Nuclear Powered Warship Safety Committee consists of serving and retired experts in nuclear and related fields from both within and outside the Ministry of 1243WA Defence. Its members are appointed by the Secretary of State. The committee's function is generally one of reviewing, rather than making, reports and its terms of reference are to advise the Secretary of State and other Ministers on all public safety measures concerned with the construction, operation and maintenance of nuclear-powered warships. Although the committee has no executive powers, in practice the Ministry of Defence has always followed its advice on matters which fall within its terms of reference.