Nuclear Submarines (Hansard, 8 March 1990)

§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all United Kingdom ballistic missile nuclear submarines have now been checked, in home port, for possible cracks in reactor coolant pipes.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Members for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Loyden) and for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) on Tuesday 6 March,Official Report, columns 614–15.

Mr. Alan Williams
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a special safety plan for areas adjoining a Z-berth would be introduced in cases where local councils refuse to co-operate in establishing such a plan.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
Yes.

Mr. Alan Williams
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role and actions would be required of a local council in the event of an incident requiring activation of a special safety plan in the vicinity of a Z-berth.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
In the event of an incident requiring activation of a special safety plan in the vicinity of a Z-berth, as in any other civil emergency, the local authorities would act in support of the emergency services and carry out their normal functions in the light of the situation and of technical advice from the Ministry of Defence and the National Radiological Protection Board.