Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment of (a) nuclear, (b) fire and (c) other safety risks on board the Vanguard nuclear fleet the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator has made; and if he will make a statement.

The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator, together with the Defence Maritime Regulator, as part of the Defence Safety Authority continually assesses the safety risks on board the Vanguard nuclear fleet. Nuclear Safety and the safety of our personnel remain the highest priorities for Defence and it is considered that safety risks continue to be well managed to achieve 'As Low As Reasonably Practicable' (ALARP) and tolerable.