HC Deb 05 July 1999 vol 334 cc340-1W
Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if United Kingdom involvement in the US National Ignition Facility replaces proposals to develop a high powered laser facility at AWE Aldermaston; [87694]

(2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) of 9 June 1999, Official Report, columns 329–30, how much Britain has invested to date in the US National Ignition Facility; and what further investment is planned in each of the next five years; [87693]

(3) if he will list the laser facilities in existence, under construction and proposed for the future at AWE Aldermaston, indicating their primary purpose and how they differ from the US National Ignition Facility. [87695]

Mr. George Robertson

My Department has concluded that, as the cost of building a domestic laser of sufficient power would be unaffordable, we should, in the absence of nuclear testing, invest in the US National Ignition Facility, NIF, in order to make use of its facilities. The precise details of our investment in the NIF have yet to be formalised in a contract with the US. The information requested is, therefore, commercially sensitive. I can, however, say that the investment, to cover a shot rate enhancement programme and the design and construction of a UK target chamber, will be in the region of £100m. This represents an affordable and cost-effective way of discharging the undertaking we gave in the Strategic Defence Review that we would ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear weapons.

No new laser facility is under construction or planned for AWE Aldermaston. The present laser at Aldermaston, generally known as Helen and opened in 1979, has been used to research the principle of techniques to underwrite the integrity of nuclear warheads in the absence of nuclear testing. It is based on older technology than the NIF which is 600 times more powerful. Helen will be retained until access to NIF is obtained.