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Written question asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 3 July 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 July 2017. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 July 2017 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Nuclear Weapons: Safety

Question

Her Majesty's Government whether it is the case that (1) some local residents were evacuated during the fire at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in 2010, (2) the Atomic Weapons Establishment pleaded guilty in 1999 to illegally discharging tritium into the Aldermaston Stream, and (3) the High Court found, in Blue Circle Industries Plc. v Ministry of Defence, that plutonium contamination from the Atomic Weapons Establishment damaged a nearby marshland; and if so, whether they intend to review their answer by Earl Howe on 21 March (HL6105) that "the defence nuclear programme has never experienced an incident that posed any risk to the public or the environment".

Answer

The answer given on 21 March 2017 (HL6105) was in response to a question concerning safety improvements in the defence nuclear weapons programme. The response was in relation to radiological incidents at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), none of which have ever posed any risk to the health of the public or the environment. The incidents raised by the noble Baroness did occur; a small number of residents were evacuated in 2010 as a precautionary measure due to a fire in a non-nuclear area. I can confirm that in none of the incidents cited was it assessed that there was any radiological risk to the public.

The risk of any of these incidents recurring has been greatly reduced due to subsequent improvements to the infrastructure at AWE.

Activity at AWE sites is governed by a number of permits, authorisations, licences and consents for managing waste and discharges to the environment. AWE plc and the Ministry of Defence continuously monitor their compliance and inspections are routinely undertaken by the relevant regulatory authorities, including the Environment Agency.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL396
Session
2017-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Contamination AWE Environment protection Health hazards Fires Nuclear weapons Water Safety Plutonium Tritium
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk