The Ministry of Defence is being urged to disclose particulars of a nuclear incident that passed off at Faslane naval base earlier this 12 months.
Figures present {that a} Class A occasion occurred at HMNB Clyde between 1 January and 22 April.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) defines Class A as essentially the most severe – nonetheless, it has claimed the incident was categorised as of “low security significance” and didn’t pose a danger to the general public or end in any radiological impression to the atmosphere.
HMNB Clyde relies on the banks of Gare Loch at Faslane in Argyll and Bute.
It’s the Royal Navy’s headquarters in Scotland and is house to Britain’s nuclear submarines, which incorporates the Vanguard vessels armed with Trident missiles.
A Vanguard nuclear submarine at HM Naval Base Clyde. Pic: PA
Nuclear Website Occasion Stories (NSERs) element incidents at nuclear services and are categorised based mostly on their security significance and impression.
Responding to a written query earlier this 12 months by SNP MP Dave Doogan, Maria Eagle, minister for defence procurement and trade, confirmed dozens of incidents at Faslane and close by RNAD Coulport – the storage and loading facility for the Trident programme.
Nuclear web site occasions (22 April 2024 to 22 April 2025):
• Coulport: 13 Class C and 34 Class D
• Faslane: 1 Class A, 5 Class B, 29 Class C, and 71 Class D
Ms Eagle stated she couldn’t present particular particulars of the Class A or B incidents “as disclosure would, or can be prone to, prejudice the potential, effectiveness or safety of any related forces”.
She assured Mr Doogan that “not one of the occasions induced hurt to the well being of any member of employees or to any member of the general public and none have resulted in any radiological impression to the atmosphere”.
In a letter to Mr Doogan, UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated: “I can affirm that every one reported occasions had been categorised as of low security significance.
“In accordance with the Worldwide Nuclear and Radiological Occasion Scale (lNES) vital security incidents are categorised on the lowest degree – degree one in all seven.
“Incidents that may fall into this class embrace tools failures, human error, procedural failings or close to misses the place no hurt [was] induced to the well being of any member of naval base employees, any member of the general public, or any resultant radiological impression to the atmosphere.”
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Up to now week, issues have been reignited over the environmental and public well being impression of the UK’s nuclear weapons programme.
It comes following an investigation by The Guardian and The Ferret, which uncovered radioactive water from RNAD Coulport had leaked into Loch Lengthy because of defective previous pipes again in 2019.
The secrecy battle went on for six years.
The Scottish Setting Safety Company (SEPA) reported the discharges had been “of no regulatory concern”, whereas the MoD stated there had been “no unsafe releases of radioactive materials” into the atmosphere.
In response to the “catalogue of failures”, the SNP’s deputy chief is asking for an “pressing clarification” from the UK authorities as to what really occurred at Faslane.
MSP Keith Brown stated: “Nuclear weapons are an ever-present hazard and this new data is deeply worrying.
“With repeated reviews of great incidents at Faslane and now confirmed radioactive contamination in Loch Lengthy, it is clear these weapons aren’t solely poorly maintained however are a direct menace to the environment, our communities, and our security.
“Worse nonetheless, the Labour authorities is refusing to supply any particulars in regards to the Class A incident.”
The MoD stated it was unable to reveal the main points of the incidents reported for “nationwide safety causes”, however careworn all had been categorised as of “low security significance”.
A spokesperson for the MoD stated: “We place the upmost significance on dealing with radioactive substances safely and securely.
“Nuclear Website Occasion Stories reveal our strong security tradition and dedication to be taught from expertise.
“The incidents posed no danger to the general public and didn’t end in any radiological impression to the atmosphere. It’s factually incorrect to recommend in any other case.
“Our authorities backs our nuclear deterrent as the final word guarantor of our nationwide safety.”
