§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 628, how many press releases were issued before, during and after Exercise Senator 97; what information was given to local residents; how many members of the media were invited to attend the exercise; and how many of his Department's staff took part. [30501]
§ Dr. ReidExercise SENATOR 97, a grade B nuclear accident response exercise, was held between 22–25 September 1997 at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks and Lincolnshire Fire Brigade Headquarters in the Grantham area of Lincolnshire. This was a table top exercise that focused on the response at the local strategic level. No press releases were issued before, during or after Exercise SENATOR 97. No information on the exercise was provided to local residents, although local MPs were informed in advance by letter, as is normal departmental practice. No members of the media were invited to attend the exercise. Two hundred and fifty members of my Department participated in this exercise.