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Written question asked by Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 September 2025. It was answered by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Nuclear Weapons: Decommissioning

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost is of the warhead dismantlement programme across Atomic Weapons Establishment sites; and what protocols are in place for the secure (a) handling, (b) storage and (c) disposal of radioactive materials.

Answer

The Mk4 warhead components are being disassembled and re-used, recycled or safely disposed of at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Burghfield site, following the transition to the Mk4A warhead in 2023. The cost of disassembling our nuclear warheads and details around the reuse of components are being withheld for national security reasons.

AWE is committed to the safe and secure handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials, and this activity is regulated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
70232
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Decommissioning Costs AWE Nuclear weapons Radioactive materials Storage
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk