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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles deployed for the movement of (a) nuclear weapons and (b) nuclear materials to and from the atomic weapons establishments at (i) Aldermaston and (ii) Burghfield or in exercises relating thereto have been involved in road traffic (A) incidents and (B) offences, since September 2003, broken down by (1) date and (2) circumstances of the incident; what risk assessment was carried out in each case; whether these assessments are made publicly available; and whether there are outstanding claims from third parties arising from such incidents. [190699] Mr. Ingram: There have been no reported road traffic accidents or incidents in the period since September 2003 involving nuclear weapon/nuclear material convoy vehicles. There have been a number of incidents involving anti-nuclear protestor activity in the vicinity of Ministry of Defence nuclear weapon/nuclear material convoy vehicles, one of which has resulted in a protester being charged with road traffic offences by the Ministry of Defence Police. All convoy movements are assessed in advance to ensure that they are safe and secure, in line with Health and Safety guidelines. A Risk Assessment is carried out by the MDP on completion of every task and any necessary amendments published formally within MOD. This information is not made available to the public as disclosure could potentially be of assistance to terrorists or others who may wish to attack the convoy with a view to endangering security and defence interests and the lives of civilian and service personnel. One MOD claim remains outstanding against a protester. No claims are outstanding against the MOD.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

425 c1211W; 190699

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Armed forces Accidents AWE Nuclear weapons Radioactive materials Terrorism Security Transport Risk assessment

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk