Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of occasions on which the principal specialist inspector from the Health and Safety Executive has visited atomic weapons establishment sites in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleFull details of the number of occasions the principal specialist inspector from the112W Health and Safety Executive has visited Atomic Weapons Establishment sites over the last 10 years are not available but over the last four years the following visits have been made.
Atomic Weapons Establishments Aldermaston Burghfield Foulness Total 1987 14 6 2 22 1988 16 1 1 18 1989 27 3 1 31 1990 18 3 1 22 This is typical of previous years.
The principal specialist inspector from the Health and Safety executive does not visit Atomic Weapons Establishment Cardiff. However, the factory inspector does, and has visited on three occasions during 1989 and 1990.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the principal specialist inspector visits atomic weapons establishment sites without informing atomic weapons establishment management prior to his visit; and what is his security clearance.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe Health and Safety Executive principal inspector informs the Atomic Weapons Establishment prior to his visits. He holds high security clearance which gives him access to all parts of the establishment.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish the agreement that exists between his Department and the Health and Safety Executive regarding visits by the principal specialist inspector.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleNo. The written agreement which exists is a classified document and is not for general publication.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current staffing level of the safety division of the atomic weapons establishment; what are the civil service grades of the members of the division; and what powers they possess to alter operations within the atomic weapons establishment on the grounds of safety.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleAWE safety division is staffed by industrial, scientific, technical, supervisory and administrative grades. The division, which is headed by director safety, provides safety services and advice to operating divisions and, if necessary, by direct recourse to the chief executive. It is not our policy to reveal the exact numbers on deployment of staff at AWE.