HC Deb 05 March 1990 vol 168 cc534-5W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if contractorisation at AWE Aldermaston and Burghfield will apply to Trident warhead component production and assembly.

Mr. Neubert

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State told the House on 5 December 1989, Vol. 163, column 165, the Government plan to introduce full contractorisation of the Atomic Weapons Establishment in its entirety, including warhead component production and assembly.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes in working practices are being considered at AWE Aldermaston, in the light of the Gardener report; and whether they will have an effect on the production schedule of the Trident missile warhead.

Mr. Neubert

Within AWE, radiation exposures continue to be authorised only on the basis that they are justified, comply with statutory limits and are as low as reasonably practicable. In 1988, the average whole body occupational exposure for radiation workers at AWE was 0.7 milliSieverts. The general public in the United Kingdom receives typically 2 mSv per year from natural and background sources. Trident warhead production remains on schedule to meet the in-service date of the mid-1990s.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of staff turnover, as a percentage, at AWE Aldermaston in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Mr. Neubert

Intake and outflow of staff at the Atomic Weapons Establishment have been approximately equal at about 800 over the 12-month period to 1 February 1990. To express this as a percentage would reveal total AWE staff numbers, which would be undesirable on security grounds.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the effect on the cost of the Trident production programme of contractorisation at AWE Aldermaston and Burghfield.

Mr. Neubert

The cost of introducing full contractor operation of the Atomic Weapons Establishment will be determined by competition. In the longer term, this cost should be offset by increased efficiency and improved utilisation of resources. It is too early to say how any net changes in costs would be attributed to individual programmes.