HC Deb 27 January 1993 vol 217 cc750-1W
Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the conclusions of the studies carried out into the relative safety of keeping used fuel cores on board decommissioned submarines or storing on land.

Mr. Aitken

The safety of used fuel cores, both on board decommissioned submarines and stored on land, has been confirmed by rigorous independent safety assessments.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it is expected that the used fuel core from HMS Revenge will be removed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 14 December at column81.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the long-term disposal of used fuel cores from nuclear-powered submarines which are currently stored at Sellafield.

Mr. Aitken

It is planned to continue with the safe storage of nuclear submarine used fuel cores currently held at BNFL Sellafield. No decisions have been taken on their long-term disposal.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the usual time scale for submarines taken to Rosyth for decommissioning before being defuelled; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken

There is no usual timescale; we have only previously taken one submarine to Rosyth for decommissioning.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the minimum and maximum time period which submarines taken to Rosyth for decommissioning have had to wait before being defuelled; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken

Only one submarine has been taken to Rosyth for decommissioning and defuelling has not yet commenced.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected time scale for any submarines taken to Rosyth in the future for decommissioning before being defuelled; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Aitken

We plan for a six-month timescale, but this will depend on the availability of docks for defuelling.

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