§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many studies have been carried out by the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston since 1966 to examine the effect of an accident involving nuclear weapons; and how many of these studies have examined the dispersal of nuclear materials in the event of such an accident. [36135]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotRather than individual studies, the Atomic Weapons Establishment maintains a continual programme of research into, and assessment of, the effects of a nuclear weapons accident, including dispersal of nuclear materials. Numerous weapon accident exercises are conducted to test procedures and personnel.
§ Mr. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the names of the exercises held since 1966 for testing the Department's arrangements for dealing with an accident involving nuclear weapons controlled by(a) Britain and (b) the United States of America; in what year each of these exercises was held; and which service was primarily in charge of each of these exercises. [36136]
§ Mr. SoamesThe 1995 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" described the programme of regular nuclear accident response organisation exercises and the basis on which these are categorised. The definition of these categories has developed over the years but, from the 181W records which are available, the following exercises since 1986 would have been commensurate with what we currently consider to be major or medium level.
Information on exercises before 1986 and on minor exercises is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Exercise Name Lead service Weapon controlled by: 1986 Bowline RN UK Carrick Bend RN UK Sharp Foil RN UK 1987 Bowline RN UK Carrick Bend RN UK Running Fox RN UK 1988 Pantograph RAF UK Carrick Bend RN UK Sharp Foil RN UK Running Fox RN UK Bowline RN UK 1989 Running Fox RN UK Proper Watch RAF USA Bowline RN UK Carrick Bend RN UK 1990 Running Fox RN UK Bowline RN UK Sharp Foil RN UK 1991 Bowline RN UK Running Fox RN UK 1992 Bowline RN UK Miscast RAF UK 1993 Running Fox RN UK Bowline RN UK 3 x Standardisation Exercises (1) RAF UK 1994 Diver Mist RAF USA 6 x Standardisation Exercises (1) RAF UK Sharp Foil RN UK Running Fox RN UK 1995 7 x Standardisation Exercises (1) RAF UK Sharp Foil RN UK Running Fox RN UK 1996 (to date) Running Fox RN UK 1 x Standardisation Exercise (1) RAF UK Senator RAF UK Note (1):
Standardisation exercises test the RAF Immediate Force response fire teams for the transportation of nuclear weapons. These exercises were re-categorised from minor to medium level during 1993.
182W
§ Mr. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how frequently the Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee produces a report on its activities; when the first such report was produced; and what are the current security classifications of each of these reports. [36490]
§ Mr. SoamesThe Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee does not produce a regular series of reports. However, meetings of the committee have been minuted since it was established in 1959. The preparation of separate reports would be dependent on the nature of committee business but this is invariably sensitive. The security classification of the committee's paperwork ranges from restricted to top secret.