Nuclear Information Service

This region of the NIS site shows published records of UK government policy and parliamentary debates on nuclear weapons issues. It includes articles and links to the latest parliamentary debates; the views of media commentators and NGOs. The HANSARD section lists parliamentary questions and government ministers’ answers, which are a regular source of detailed information on all aspects of nuclear weapons manufacture, operations and military policy.

Flood map for AWE Burghfield. Shaded areas represent areas at significant risk of flooding, where the chance of flooding each year is greater than 1.3% (1 in 75).

events notice

NEW NIS Submission to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY CONSULTATION

Global Security: Non-Proliferation

NIS argues that the risks posed by British nuclear weapons production and road transport of warheads threaten each individual citizen and our way of life. Additionally, the risk of a criticality event at the substandard warhead assembly/disassembly facilities at AWE Burghfield is also unacceptable and unjustifiable.

Read the NIS submission to the FCO.

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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..

Hansard on AWE Aldermaston safety

2000-04-05 14:00

5 Apr 2000
Column: 487W
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000405/text/00405w07.htm

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the criteria against which the applications for the new contract to run AWE Aldermaston were assessed. [113668]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 9 March 2000]: In assessing bids to manage and operate the Atomic Weapons Establishment from 1 April 2000 information was required from all participating consortia to demonstrate that their parent companies met full compliance on safety performance. This was essential to

qualify for further consideration of the bids. Once over this hurdle assessment was made against the following criteria:

Safety (the risk of harm and potential harm to people, property and the environment to be as low as reasonably practicable).

National Capability (the ability of AWE to underwrite safety and reliability of nuclear warheads without recourse to nuclear testing and to maintain minimum capability to design and produce a successor to Trident if this were to be deemed necessary).

Security (the protection of assets, information and people).

Management (including the provision of Directors, adequate management measurement criteria and public relations).

Infrastructure (the maintenance of the capital asset base to support outputs and waste management and decommissioning).

Material (the production and through life support of weapons).

Commercial (including the costs of the contract).

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the areas of responsibility assigned to each of the three members of the AWE management consortium under the terms of the contract to manage the AWE Aldermaston site. [116344]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 27 March 2000]: It is intended that at the start of the contract responsibilities will be allocated to parent company nominees as follows:

    Serco--Chief Executive, Business Services, and Communications

    Lockheed Martin--Deputy Chief Executive, Research, and Production

    BNFL--Assurance, Infrastructure, and Human Resources and Strategic Development.