Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what category of safety assurance was assigned to the nuclear domain by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator for the years (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator Annual Assurance Reports for the periods 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18, containing the level of safety assurance, will not be published as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This does not prevent the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme, nor prevent its duty holders being held to account, but in the current security climate we cannot accept compromising our capabilities by disclosing the reports or details contained within.