Warheads

 

In this section are items about the warhead programme (mainly conducted at the Atomic Weapons Establishment) and it also includes information about US/UK warhead cooperation.

Originated date Post date Title
3 March, 2010 7 March, 2010 Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 1221W
3 March, 2010 7 March, 2010 Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 1221W
29 January, 2010 1 February, 2010 Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 1121W

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 1221W

Date: 
3 March, 2010
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 3 Mar 2010 : Column 1221W
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for North Devon of 28 November 2007, Official Report, column 453W, on nuclear weapons, whether any funding for the work of his Department's Warhead Pre-Concept Working Group is included in the funding allocation for the Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme; what the cost was of work undertaken by the Warhead Pre-Concept Working Group in 2008-09 and 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of the projected cost of work scheduled to be carried out by the Working Group in the next three years. [319190]

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 1221W

Date: 
3 March, 2010
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 3 Mar 2010 : Column 1221W
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any stocks of defence special nuclear materials are held at locations other than sites owned by his Department. [319194]

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 1121W

Date: 
29 January, 2010
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 29 Jan 2010 : Column 1121W
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2010, Official Report, columns 17-18W, on radioactive materials: imports, what the provisions are of the strict materials accountancy regime to which reference was made in the answer; which organisation carries out the accountancy checks; and to whom that organisation reports. [313541]

Commons Hansard - Davies: Column 1015W

Date: 
28 January, 2010
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 28 Jan 2010 : Column 1015W
 
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the development of new nuclear weapons at Aldermaston. [313385]

Lords Hansard - debates - Lord Owen: Column 1118

Date: 
21 January, 2010
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 21 Jan 2010 : Column 1118
 
In the UK, the juxtaposition of a far graver economic crisis than this country has yet begun to face up to and the need for expenditure cuts across the board, even in defence-I deeply regret that, but we must face the reality-ought to be able to make us take decisions on continuing with the nuclear deterrent for the next few decades, albeit in a much more modest and less costly way than we have done in the past. The Prime Minister has said that he favours a three-boat SSBN fleet. That effectively means that you do not have continuous deployment, which is itself an important decision in terms of non-proliferation.

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 17W

Date: 
18 January, 2010
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 18 Jan 2010 : Column 17W
 
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which countries uranium used in (a) British nuclear warheads and (b) nuclear submarine propulsion fuel has been obtained since 1980; and what information has been provided to the International Atomic Energy Agency on such imports. [310089]
 

HSE - NII Assessment of the AWE Burghfield Periodic Review of Safety

Date: 
23 November, 2009
Source: 
http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/burghfield.pdf

'Introduction
This summary report presents the findings of the NII assessment of the AWE periodic review of safety in respect of its nuclear licensed site at Burghfield.
An overview of the purpose of the periodic safety review (PSR) is described, along with the NII assessment process and the outcomes of the interim and final decisions on the PSR.
Whilst there were no immediate concerns for nuclear safety, AWE identified a number of shortfalls as measured against modern standards. The conditions for continued operation, that include the need to design and construct a new facility, are presented along with the key improvements that have been implemented as a result of NII’s decision on the adequacy of the PSR that has been produced and the regulatory approach that has been adopted.

Nuclear Warhead Activities at AWE Aldermaston

Date: 
20 November, 2009
Source: 
http://www.tridentploughshares.org

'This report examines current and potential future nuclear warhead activities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield. Given the very close collaboration between the British and American nuclear weapon programmes the report examines aspects of US nuclear weapon developments that have a direct bearing on current and potential future activities at AWE.'

Commons Hansard - Rammell: Column 236W

Date: 
10 November, 2009
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Commons Hansard - 10 Nov 2009 : Column 236W
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the terms of reference are of the Nuclear Warhead Sustainment Steering Group; and whether US personnel will participate in the work of the group. [298099]

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 1469W

Date: 
21 October, 2009
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 21 Oct 2009 : Column 1469W
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the merits of reducing the number of nuclear warheads in the United Kingdom stockpile; what technical capability exists in the UK to dismantle redundant warheads; and whether the UK is able to make use of US expertise on this matter. [294253]

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 17W

Date: 
18 January, 2010
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 18 Jan 2010 : Column 17W
 
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which countries uranium used in (a) British nuclear warheads and (b) nuclear submarine propulsion fuel has been obtained since 1980; and what information has been provided to the International Atomic Energy Agency on such imports. [310089]
 

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 1214W

Date: 
16 December, 2009
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 16 Dec 2009 : Column 1214W
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment was made in the best practical environmental options selection study for the Enriched Uranium Project of the merits of the purchase from the US of enriched uranium components for (a) the naval nuclear propulsion programme and (b) the nuclear warhead programme. [305748]

Commons Hansard - Davies: Column 213W

Date: 
8 December, 2009
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 8 Dec 2009 : Column 213W
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to modify the gas transfer system of the Trident warhead as part of the Mk4A refurbishment programme; and in which country the gas transfer system will be manufactured. [304340]

Commons Hansard - Davies: Column 214W

Date: 
8 December, 2009
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 8 Dec 2009 : Column 214W
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected cost is of the Mk4A refurbishment programme for Trident warheads; and what proportion of this expenditure he expects to be incurred in the United States. [304341]

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 100W

Date: 
7 December, 2009
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 7 Dec 2009 : Column 100W
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which country the gas reservoirs for Trident nuclear warheads are filled with tritium; and if he will make a statement. [303891]

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 100W

Date: 
7 December, 2009
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 7 Dec 2009 : Column 100W
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been any changes to the range of nuclear weapons-related information and material which can be exchanged between the US and the UK since 2003. [303888]

Commons Hansard - Ainsworth: Column 911W

Date: 
3 December, 2009
Source: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk

Hansard source - 3 Dec 2009 : Column 911W
 
 
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which countries the (a) arming, fusing and firing system components, (b) neutron generators and (c) gas reservoirs of Trident nuclear warheads are manufactured; and if he will make a statement. [303890]

Herald - Revealed: how UK’s nuclear bombs are built by America

Date: 
29 November, 2009
Source: 
http://www.heraldscotland.com

Herald source
by Rob Edwards
 

Britain’s Trident deterrent’s independence ‘undermined’
 
The Ministry of Defence has been forced to reveal one of the most closely guarded secrets behind Britain’s nuclear weapons programme.
 
For years UK ministers have repeatedly refused to say where neutron generators – a vital component of the Trident warheads stationed on the Clyde – were manufactured. The information had to be kept secret for national security reasons, they said.

FOI - MoD: Information on American use of Hydrodynamics Experimentation Facilities at AWE Aldermaston

Date: 
27 November, 2009
Source: 
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com

"Dear Sir or Madam,
 
This is a Freedom of Information request. Please would you provide details of American use of  hydrodynamics facilities at AWE Aldermaston including:
 
- the dates when these facilities have been used since 1992
 
- the costs that have accrued to MOD or other agencies of the British government as a result of US use of these facilities
 
- whether American personnel have used hydrodynamics experimentation facilities at AWE Aldermaston for work related to the Reliable Replacement Warhead programme; and whether such work, if it happened, had application for the UK High Surety Warhead programme
 
- whether American personnel have used hydrodynamics experimentation facilities at AWE Aldermaston for work related towarheads with an explosive yield of less than five kilotons
 
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Martin Butcher"

Nuclear Warhead Activities at AWE Aldermaston

Date: 
20 November, 2009
Source: 
http://www.tridentploughshares.org

'This report examines current and potential future nuclear warhead activities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield. Given the very close collaboration between the British and American nuclear weapon programmes the report examines aspects of US nuclear weapon developments that have a direct bearing on current and potential future activities at AWE.'