Asked by: Emma Dent Coad (Labour - Kensington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Government will commit to not allowing US cruise missiles to be based in the UK after the US has suspended its obligations from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Europe and the Americas (Sir Alan Duncan) on 12 February 2019 to Question 217100 to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr Lloyd Russell-Moyle).
Asked by: Emma Dent Coad (Labour - Kensington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contingency plans he has put in place for fuel element breaches in a Vanguard submarine reactor.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The safety of the United Kingdom's submarine force remains our highest priority. We continue to work closely with the independent regulators to ensure the safety of operations both alongside and at sea. I am withholding further details as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Emma Dent Coad (Labour - Kensington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contingency plans he has put in place to monitor the integrity of the fuel elements in Vanguard submarine reactors.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The safety of the United Kingdom's submarine force remains our highest priority. We continue to work closely with the independent regulators to ensure the safety of operations both alongside and at sea. I am withholding further details as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Emma Dent Coad (Labour - Kensington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what dates safety cases for the operation of the PWR2 Steam Raising Plant were submitted by his Department for regulatory approval.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The PWR2 Naval Reactor Safety Case is a live document which is maintained through-life to justify and ensure continued safe operation of the reactors in our submarines. It is a requirement that a major stand alone review of each Safety Case is undertaken at approximately ten-year intervals. The last periodic full review was completed in 2014.
Asked by: Emma Dent Coad (Labour - Kensington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the need to refuel (a) HMS Vigilant and (b) HMS Vengeance in their remaining years of service.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor (Guto Bebb) on 26 January 2018 to Question 123641 to the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Ruth Cadbury).
Asked by: Emma Dent Coad (Labour - Kensington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what sources of information his Department consulted in its assessment which led to the decision not to refuel HMS Victorious.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Ministry of Defence has considered a wide range of safety, technical and programmatic information in formulating its decision not to refuel HMS Victorious.
I can confirm that our ability to operate all our nuclear submarines safely is not in doubt.