Atomic Weapons Establishments (Hansard, 9 February 1995)

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the savings for the overall reduction in staffing at AWEs.

§ Mr. Freeman
Estimated savings are expected to rise to some tens of millions of pounds.

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for liaising with representatives of the local community regarding the future of AWE Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Freeman
Liaison with the local community is undertaken by the company managing AWE, Hunting-BRAE. The company will be discussing the consequences of rationalisation with local representatives when its Cardiff liaison committee next meets.

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which functions of AWE Burghfield are to be transferred to AWE Aldermaston and which are to be discontinued.

§ Mr. Freeman
Some work on rubber, plastics, salts, high explosives components and detonators will be transferred from AWE Burghfield to AWE Aldermaston. No functions will be discontinued.

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated savings from the proposed closures 411W of(a) AWE Cardiff, (b) Foulness and (c) the proposed cuts at Burghfield.

§ Mr. Freeman
Eventual estimated savings for the proposed closure of AWE Cardiff, for rationalisation of work from AWE Foulness, and for the proposed changes at AWE Burghfield, will be substantial. Costs of the defence nuclear programme have been regarded by successive Governments as inappropriate for public disclosure.

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional activities will be carried out by AWE Aldermaston as a result of the recent review.

§ Mr. Freeman
Some component manufacture, including work on rubber, plastic, salts, high explosives components and detonators, as well as some laboratory work from Foulness, will move to AWE Aldermaston.

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual operating cost of AWEs(a) in the year prior to contractorisation and (b) in the year after contractorisation.

§ Mr. Freeman
The costs of the defence nuclear programme have been regarded by successive Governments as inappropriate for public disclosure. With contractorisation, AWE operating costs have also become commercially sensitive.

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for liaising with representatives of the local community regarding the proposed changes at AWE Burghfield and AWE Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Freeman
Liaison with local communities is undertaken by the company managing AWE, Hunting-BRAE. I understand it is meeting local representatives today.