Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to alter the frequency of Exercise Short Sermon for nuclear resilience in Plymouth.

The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR) place a statutory duty on Plymouth City Council (PCC) to prepare and test an off-site emergency plan for the Devonport site. Previous tests of the off-site plan have been conducted during Exercise Short Sermon, with the frequency and timing of the exercise being agreed between PCC, the Ministry of Defence and Devonport Royal Dockyard Limited.

The next test of these arrangements will be conducted by PCC during Exercise Short Sermon 19, to be held on 12 September, and the Devonport site operations will continue to agree future test dates with PCC in accordance with REPPIR requirements.