HC Deb 25 April 1994 vol 242 cc83-4W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arrangements have been made for the media to(a) participate in the Diver Mist nuclear weapons accident exercise and (b) report on the activities and outcome of the Diver Mist exercise;

(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Diver Mist nuclear weapons emergency exercise scenario.

(3) if he will place in the Library an unclassified version of his Departmental report evaluating the Diver Mist nuclear weapons accident exercise conducted in East Anglia 18 to 22 April;

(4) which military authorities will participate in the Diver Mist nuclear weapons accident exercise on 18 to 22 April in East Anglia;

(5) which emergency plans will be tested during the Diver Mist nuclear accident exercise in East Anglia on 18 to 22 April;

(6) what are the objectives of the joint United Kingdom/United States nuclear weapon accident exercise Diver Mist due to take place near Thetford on 18 to 24 April;

(7) if he will list the observers invited to attend the Diver Mist nuclear weapons accident exercise in East Anglia on 18 to 22 April.

Mr. Hanley

The accident scenario for Exercise Diver Mist was based on a crash of a United States transport aircraft carrying nuclear weapons in United Kingdom airspace. The objective was to exercise the combined response of relevant United Kingdom and United States Government Departments and local authorities and civil emergency services to a nuclear weapon transport accident, and as such it offered the opportunity to test relevant United Kingdom-United States and national contingency plans, as well as the major incident plans of local authorities and emergency services. The exercise involved the participation of the MOD's nuclear accident response organisation, which includes military units and personnel with relevant capabilities from all three services. United States military forces with similar capabilities also participated. I attended the exercise to provide the parliamentary and political dimension.

Observers from relevant central Government Departments, local authorities and emergency services, and from United States federal authorities were invited to attend the exercise. Media participation in the circumstances created by the exercise scenario was simulated by exercise players, who included reservists who are journalists by profession. In addition, a briefing attended by representatives of the local media was held on 17 April to explan the scope and purpose of the exercise.

The post-exercise report will be a classified document.