Rennie challenges Ministry of Defence for answers over nuclear subs (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

North Tayside Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Rennie challenges Ministry of Defence for answers over nuclear subs

February 9, 2009 3:59 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Lib Dem Defence team member Willie Rennie MP, has written to the Ministry of Defence asking them to clarify when they will be able to provide a land storage solution for the waste produced by the nuclear submarines held at Rosyth Dockyard.--break-->

The Dunfermline and West Fife MP wrote demanding an explanation from the MOD following their promise last year to have completed a feasibility study into land storage options for nuclear waste by the end of 2008.

Rosyth dockyard is the resting place for seven decommissioned nuclear submarines at a combined weight of almost 6,000 tonnes. The HMS Dreadnought has been resting in the non-tidal basin of Rosyth for 25 years.

Commenting Mr Rennie said:

"Rosyth dockyard has had a long association, stretching back to the '60s, with nuclear-powered submarines; but I think I speak for the whole community when I say that it is an association that we wish would come to an end.

"When dealing with the disposal of nuclear waste, safety must be the number one priority. But so much time has gone by, that we are now at a stage when other issues demand serious consideration.

"One problem is the limited capacity to store decommissioned nuclear submarines in the United Kingdom. It's also the case that the cost of storing the nuclear submarines afloat will continue to rise the longer they are in the water.

"Now that the technical barriers which used to surround the disposal of nuclear waste no longer exist, it's essential that in order to maximise capacity and minimise cost that we find an effective solution for the decommissioned subs.

"It's time that the Ministry of Defence lived up to its obligations to our communities and gave a definitive answer on the future of our decommissioned nuclear submarines."

Notes:

1. Rosyth dockyard is the resting place for seven nuclear submarines: the four Polaris SSBNs, HMS Resolution, HMS Repulse, HMS Renown and HMS Revenge, and three SSNs, or ship submersible nuclear submarines, HMS Churchill, HMS Swiftsure and the original HMS Dreadnought.