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.

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.