Written question asked by Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 9 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 June 1998. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 June 1998 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who has responsibility for carrying out seismic assessments of suspicious events under the contract for a National Data Centre; and who has been carrying out assessments of nuclear tests in India and Pakistan under the same contract. - (Holding answer 15 June 1998).

Answer: Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who has responsibility for carrying out seismic assessments of suspicious events under the contract for a National Data Centre; and who has been carrying out assessments of nuclear tests in India and Pakistan under the same contract. [45525] Mr. Spellar: [holding answer 15 June 1998]: The Atomic Weapons Establishment, AWE, at Blacknest have been carrying out assessments of the recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. This work is being carried out under an MOD contract for support to nuclear test ban verification. Establishment of the National Data Centre, resulting from the requirements of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, is a new task being carried out by the British Geological Survey under sub-contract to AWE.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 45525; 314 c230-1W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: AWE India Nuclear weapons Pakistan Testing Seismic monitoring UK National Data Centre