Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of army recruits who take sick leave return to work to complete their training; and what the average length of absence is.
Answered by Johnny Mercer
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many safety-related incidents that have occurred during the transportation of nuclear weapons have resulted in the convoy transporting those weapons temporarily halting; and what assessment she has made of the potential environmental effect of those incidents.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The transportation of Defence Nuclear Material, which includes nuclear weapons, is carried out to the highest standard in accordance with stringent safety regulations. Any potential issue with a convoy vehicle, no matter how minor, is treated seriously and may result in a short unscheduled stop to carry out vehicle checks to ensure that safety is maintained.
Since 2000 there have been 57 unscheduled stops of this nature. None posed any risk to the public, environment, or to any material being transported.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to increase the transparency of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
We have taken the step to not publish the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's Annual Assurance Reports as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This step has not prevented the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme being reported to Ministers, nor has it prevented its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.
The Government recognises that there is legitimate interest in nuclear safety, but we would not publish information that could be exploited by potential adversaries, compromising our national security. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the Department's priority.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of transparency in the regulation of nuclear safety.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
We have taken the step to not publish the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's Annual Assurance Reports as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This step has not prevented the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme being reported to Ministers, nor has it prevented its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.
The Government recognises that there is legitimate interest in nuclear safety, but we would not publish information that could be exploited by potential adversaries, compromising our national security. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the Department's priority.
Asked by: Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party - Dunfermline and West Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason his Department changed its policy towards the publication of Annual Reports from the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator since its last publication in 2014-15.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
We have taken the step to not publish the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's Annual Assurance Reports as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This step has not prevented the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme being reported to Ministers, nor has it prevented its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.
The Government recognises that there is legitimate interest in nuclear safety, but we would not publish information that could be exploited by potential adversaries, compromising our national security. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the Department's priority.