Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will review the proposal to close the defined benefit pension scheme at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

The proposed changes to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Pension Scheme are a matter for AWE plc to determine as the employer.

The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) role is part of the governance structure only. This requires that certain, specific changes to the scheme be approved by the Board of Trustees and the Secretary of State for Defence.

The MOD has been in close contact with AWE throughout the process. My predecessor met with trade union representatives to discuss the matter and MOD officials have subsequently met with AWE and the trade unions to clarify the Department's position concerning the AWE pension scheme.