§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with the chief executive of the Atomic Weapons Establishment in relation to the announcement of 300 voluntary redundancies requested at Aldermaston, Burghfield and Cardiff; and what proposals he has to encourage diversification into civilian uses for AWE resources and skills.
§ Mr. AitkenStaffing levels at AWE are a matter for the operating contractor—Hunting-BRAE. However, my Department was aware that the chief executive of AWE would be announcing the introduction of a voluntary redundancy scheme. Hunting-BRAE is fully conscious of the opportunities and benefits that future diversification can offer and these will be actively pursued when they do not conflict with my Department's primary requirement of maintaining the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons capability.