Aldermaston (Hansard, 5 February 1993)

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the role and function of building A1.1 at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston;
(2) if he will make a statement on the role and function of building A41 at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.

§ Mr. Aitken
Although we have provided information on the new A90 complex it is not our general policy to disclose the role and function of individual buildings at atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about the death of Walter Mallin from injuries received at Aldermaston; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident; in what part of the site the accident took place; and how many other persons were injured in this accident;
(2) if he will make a statement about the death of Terence Bishop from injuries received at Aldermaston; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident; in what part of the site the accident took place; and how many other persons were injured in this accident;
(3) if he will make a statement about the death of Norman Adams from injuries received at Aldermaston; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident; in what part of the site the accident took place; and how many other persons were injured in this accident;
(4) if he will make a statement about the death of Douglas Whittaker from injuries received at Aldermaston; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident; in what part of the site the accident took place; and how many other persons were injured in this accident;
(5) if he will make a statement about the death of Peter Allen from injuries received at Aldermaston; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident; in what part of the site the accident took place; and how many other persons were injured in this accident;
(6) how many workers have died from injuries sustained in accidents at Aldermaston, listing for each worker his or her name and the date of the accident.

§ Mr. Aitken
AWE records show that a total of seven fatalities among the AWE work force or contractors employed by AWE have occurred as a result of incidents on the Aldermaston site. The dates of each incident and the names of those who died are listed11 December 1957; Mr. D. Whittaker died as a result of injuries received when he was sprayed with molten metal which was accidentally released from the equipment on which he was working in a research area of AWE. Five other workers were injured. 26 February 1959; Mr. T. Bishop and Mr. J. W. Malin sustained fatal injuries as a result of the accidental 370W detonation of a conventional high explosive which they were transporting on an electric vehicle in an explosives area. One other worker was injured. 13 May 1959; Mr. N. Adams, an employee of a firm contracted to do work associated with the construction of pressure vessels, died as a result of being struck by a metal plate which blew out from the high pressure line on which he was working. The accident occurred in a nuclear reactor building prior to commissioning. There were no others injured. 14 September 1973; Mr. T. Hughes, a contractor's employee, died as a result of a fall from a boilerhouse chimney stack which he was inspecting. There were no others injured. 23 July 1979; Mr. P. Allen died as a result of an explosive charge detonating close to or on his left temple. The incident occurred within the explosives area, but in a room which was not authorised for explosives detonation. The inquest recorded an open verdict. There were no others injured. 25 November 1986; Mr. R. Preston, a contractor employed as a night watchman, died as a result of injuries received in a road accident on the Aldermaston site. There were no others injured.
In addition, a contractor was killed on 2 November 1985 as a result of falling from scaffolding whilst carrying out construction work on a new boilerhouse at Aldermaston. The boilerhouse was not, however, under AWE management control at the time and therefore the incident is not a matter for detailed AWE recording.
The hon. Member will be aware that my Department did not assume responsibility for AWE, Aldermaston until 1973 and that the earlier accidents occurred when it was within the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. We sympathise with all of the bereaved families who have had to live through these sad experiences, and I am sure that no useful purpose would be served by making further statements on individual cases.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the start of construction of building A1.1 at AWE Aldermaston; on what date construction was completed; on what date the building was declared operational; and how long he expects the building to remain operational.

§ Mr. Aitken
Construction of building A1.1 began in the second half of 1950 and was completed in 1951. It became operational in 1952, and is expected to remain operational for some years.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which buildings at AWE Aldermaston will be removed from operational service once(a) the A90 complex and (b) the A91 complex are declared operational.

§ Mr. Aitken
A90 and A91 are planned to replace current facilities which will then be taken out of use and decommissioned.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost, so far, in constructon and commissioning of(a) the A90 complex and (b) the A91 complex at AWE Aldermaston; and what is the estimated expenditure required for completion.

§ Mr. Aitken
It is not our practice to disclose cost details of individual buildings at Aldermaston.