Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how his Department has implemented the relevant recommendations from Exercise Senator in 2011 on nuclear accident emergencies.

Exercise Senator 2011 tested the multi-agency response to an incident involving a UK nuclear weapon convoy travelling in Scotland and the simulated release of radioactive material. The Ministry of Defence is the lead Government Department responsible for emergencies involving defence nuclear assets (other than an emergency arising as a result of a terrorist event where the Home Office is appointed as lead).

The Ministry of Defence works closely with devolved administrations (Scotland in this exercise) and local responders to ensure an effective coordinated response. The central government’s concept of operations sets out UK arrangements for responding to and recovering from emergencies.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/192425/CONOPs_incl_revised_chapter_24_Apr-13.pdf

My Department is responsible for providing the Government liaison function below the national level in England only. The Ministry of Defence invited my Department to observe exercise play at their main building where it considered cross border issues.

The all agency exercise report (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85882/exercise_senator_2011_all_agency_report.pdf) identified recommendations in exercise planning and operational, strategic and media play. There were no recommendations identified for my Department to implement.