Atomic Weapons Establishment (Hansard, 19 November 1998)

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the investigation by the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston into a plutonium contamination accident at the establishment on 4 July 1996; [60775]
(2) when the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and Nuclear Safety Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive are next due to inspect the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston; [60774]
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(3) when the Radiation Physics Division of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston was set up; what is the purpose of this division; how many series of technical papers or reports are currently being produced by this division; and what are the names of each series; [60772]
(4) how many times the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Nuclear Safety Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive have inspected the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston since July 1997; and if he will place a list of the reports of these inspections in the Library, specifying the date on which each report was produced; [60773]
(5) pursuant to his answer of 24 July 1998, Official Report, column 734, regarding the Atomic Weapons Establishment, if he will place in the Library a list of the papers produced by the Metallic Materials Business Area in the Director Technology Technical reports series which are currently unclassified, indicating the title of each paper and the date on which each paper was produced. [60777]

§ Mr. Spellar
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and for what reasons the Atomic Weapons Establishment Local Liaison Committee was set up; on what basis members are appointed to the committee; and if he will list the current members of the committee. [60776]

§ Mr. Spellar
The Local Liaison Committee was set up in 1993 to provide a means by which the Atomic Weapons Establishment, AWE, could discuss with representatives of local authorities matters of community interest and concern relating to AWE's operation. County, District, Town and parish Councils within AWE's local area are invited to be represented on the Committee. The Councils represented are:

Hampshire County Council

West Berkshire Council

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Reading Borough Council

Wokingham District Council

Tadley Town Council

Aldermaston Parish Council

Baughurst Parish Council

Beech Hill Parish Council

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Brimpton Parish Council

Burghfield Parish Council

Mortimer West End Parish Council

Padworth Parish Council

Pamber Parish Council

Pangbourne Parish Council

Purley-on-Thames Parish Council

Shinfield Parish Council

Silchester Parish Council

Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council

Sulhampstead Parish Council

Theale Parish Council

Ufton Nervet Parish Council

Wasing Parish Council

Wokefield Parish Council

Woolhampton Parish Council.

Representation is a matter for the Councils concerned. The meetings are chaired by AWE's Chief Executive and senior staff attend as required. The secretary is a member of AWE's staff.