Government delayed scrapping potentially unsafe nuclear submarines in bid to cut costs, MPs told. Influential Commons committee tells Ministry of Defence to put a stop to postponements after expert admits possible ‘safety issue’. The government has delayed scrapping potentially unsafe nuclear submarines because of concerns over costs, a new report from an influential committee of MPs has revealed. 20 disused submarines are currently awaiting disposal, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), including nine that still contain nuclear fuel. But despite admitting to potential safety risks, the government will only begin dismantling the next vessel in the mid-2020s, while the total work needed to scrap the entire 20 submarines will not be completed until at least 2045.
Independent 21st Sept 2018 read more »
The Ministry of Defence is at serious risk of failing to run a working nuclear deterrent, parliament’s spending watchdog has concluded. A report by the public accounts committee found that past decisions delaying maintenance at the MoD’s 13 sites that support nuclear submarines had left the programme “not fit for purpose”. The Trident nuclear missile programme could also be adversely affected by Brexit because of the reliance on imported material from EU countries and difficulties bringing engineers from the continent, Friday’s report said. Defence chiefs must bridge a £2.9bn black hole and fill a skills gap if they are to maintain the current deterrent, according to the influential cross-party committee.
Guardian 21st Sept 2018 read more »
The infrastructure for supporting the Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear submarines is no longer “fit for purpose”, MPs have warned. The Commons Public Accounts Committee said past decisions to delay maintenance at the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) 13 nuclear sites around the UK had created a “ticking time bomb”. The warning came after the National Audit Office disclosed earlier this year that the MoD’s “Nuclear Enterprise” programme was facing a £2.9 billion “affordability gap”.
Forces Network 21st Sept 2018 read more »
Facilities at the Westcountry dockyard vital for the maintenance of Britain’s fleet of Royal Navy nuclear submarines is no longer “fit for purpose”, MPs have warned. The Commons Public Accounts Committee said past decisions to delay maintenance at the Ministry of Defence’s 13 nuclear sites around the UK – including Devonport Dockyard – had created a “ticking time bomb”. The warning came after the National Audit Office disclosed earlier this year that the MoD’s “Nuclear Enterprise” programme was facing a £2.9 billion “affordability gap”.
Plymouth Live 21st Sept 2018 read more »