HC Deb 30 June 1995 vol 262 c829W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often(a) the Nuclear Powered Warships Safety Committee and (b) the Nuclear Weapon Safety Committee met in each year since 1992; if he will list for each committee (i) the specific subject areas covered and (ii) any reports, guidelines or recommendations provided by these committees; and if he will place unclassified versions of such documents in the Library. [31063]

Mr. Soames

The Nuclear Powered Warships Safety Committee and Nuclear Weapon Safety Committee each met three times in the years 1992, 1993 and 1994, and have so far met once in 1995. Sub-groups of both committees are also convened occasionally to discuss technical issues which do not require the attention of the full membership. The subjects addressed by these committees are invariably sensitive and it is not possible to release summaries of committee business or to prepare unclassified versions of paper.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a list of all reports, guidelines and recommendations provided by his Department's nuclear weapons safety adviser since 1979. [31061]

Mr. Soames

The work of the nuclear weapons safety adviser is invariably highly classified and it would be both impractical and inappropriate to publish such a list.