Home

NIS (Nuclear Information Service) is a not-for-profit, independent information service, which works to promote public awareness and foster debate on nuclear disarmament and related safety and environmental issues.

The NIS website is a place where you can access some of the information we hold. Here you will find information on what the government are doing with the Trident nuclear weapons system, nuclear convoys / warhead transport (Nukewatch) and regular updates on planning applications and safety issues at AWE (Atomic Weapons Establishment), as well as relevent Hansard entries and many other things.

AWE Burghfield Warhead Plant Stops Operations. Article by Jamie Doward, home affairs editor at The Observer, on 25th May 2008

events notice

You are invited to drop in to see the

Nukewatch Exhibition
& Film
(18 mins repeated)

4-7 pm Wednesday 8th October 2008

in the
House of Commons
Grimmond Room Portcullis House Westminster

NIS questionnaire

Since its relaunch in February 2008, the NIS website has seen a growth of 300% in site visits, so clearly we're doing something right. Please complete this little questionaire and help us make it even better!

MOD Stops Live Nuclear Work at AWE due to preasure from NII over safety risks..
2007 Annual Report released by NIS.
A New Film Exposes Deadly Cargo on British Roads..

Welcome to the new NIS homepage! Here you will find all the content from the old website, and of course new content as the site is updated regularly. Feedback welcome!

If you would like to subscribe to the latest news from NIS you can use the RSS feed (click orange icon) or join our mailing list.

Judicial Review of the government's decision to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system
2008-08-19 18:16
legal > nuclear_weapons
Dear Friends

Thank you for your support and interest in the NIS case against Trident.

We have now submitted our Appeal Skeleton Argument. The MoD have an opportunity to answer our points, then a High Court judge looks at both papers to assess the chances of a successful Appeal. If s/he refuses an Appeal, we have the right to an oral hearing when our barrister puts our case in the high court. If we are granted an Appeal on the papers alone, work starts to prepare the case in detail.
... more
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW INQUIRY: GLOBAL SECURITY: NON-PROLIFERATION
2008-07-17 18:44
policy > government
URGENT: Please find the attached Announcement of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee consultation, GLOBAL SECURITY:NON-PROLIFERATION, inviting submissions by no later than Monday 29th September 2008. NIS will make a submission on Treaty legal obligations and Disarmament Verification. ... more
Proposed compensation to communities near nuclear waste sites
2008-09-19 14:00
policy > government
Intermediate Level Nuclear Waste has to be stored at all nuclear facilities including AWE Aldermaston.
Decommissioned submarines waste also has to be stored for many years. The government solution of a deep underground depository to take it in future is not certain and is not acceptable since would not be retrievable in the event of leakage. ... more
Manpower shortages in MoD operational nuclear submarine safety personnel
2008-09-10 14:00
submarines > UK_fleet
Nuclear Submarine issues raised in the
Ministry of Defence Annual Performance Report 2007/8

Operational 'pinch points'

Catagory A Nuclear Watchkeepers
Shortfall of 53 Watchkeepers out of 271 - a shortfall of 24%

Cat B Nuclear Watchkeepers
A shortfall of 77 Watchkeepers out of 417 a shortfall of 18%
... more
QinetiQ secures multi-million pound submarine contract
2008-09-03 14:00
submarines > UK_fleet
A multi-million pound deal between the Ministry of Defence and UK research establishment QinetiQ has secured the support and expertise needed to ensure the continued operation of the current submarine fleet and the development of technology for future generations it was confirmed today, Wednesday 3 September 2008. The Ocean Basin, a 120 x 60 by 5.5 metre deep fresh water testing tank, will be used for developing and testing Nuclear submarines ... more
Shortage of skilled manpower for Trident
2008-08-24 14:00
nuclear_weapons > Trident
Senior commanders are warning that the nuclear submarine deterrent could be confined to docks within 18 months unless a shortage of submariners and nuclear technicians can be resolved.

Independent on Sunday 24th Aug 2008

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/
mod-struggling-to-maintain-
aircraft-and-supplies-to-troops-907211.html
District Judge dismisses Aldermaston SOCPA case
2008-08-20 14:00
legal > civil_liberties
Ministry of Defence takes 17 months to prepare a case doomed to failure.

In Newbury Magistrates Court, a District Judge dismissed a case of trespass on a nuclear licensed site against an Aldermaston peace campaigner. The prosecution under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act(SOCPA), failed to criminalise lawful protest.
Juliet McBride was arrested inside the perimeter fence at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in March 2007, during a no Trident replacement protest. ... more
Planning approval for new nuclear warhead 'conventional components' facility expected in 13th Aug 08
2008-08-11 16:00
nuclear_sites > AWE_Aldermaston
AWE expects Planning Approval for a new nuclear warhead conventional components facility on Wednesday 13th August 2008.

Building plans for another warhead production facility at AWE Aldermaston are expected to be approved by West Berkshire Council Planning on Wednesday 13th August. (See NIS Update July 2008. Public denials of government preparations to develop and manufacture a replacement for the current Trident W76 warhead have lacked credibility since the AWE Aldermaston Site Development Plan was published in 2002
... more