Royal Navy submarines are operated to the highest possible safety standards. Personnel are rigorously trained to deal efficiently and effectively with all safety incidents.
Three fires requiring both ship and external resources are recorded as occurring on Royal Navy submarines since 1 January 1987. Details of these are provided in the following table:
Vessel Location where fire took place Date of fire HMS Renown Clyde 17 February 1992 HMS Turbulent Devonport 30 April 1992 HMS Trafalgar Devonport 24 October 2003
In the same time period, there were 20 medium scale fires and details of these are provided in the following table.
Vessel Location where fire took place, if known Date of fire HMS Courageous Alongside 10 December 1984 HMS Sceptre Not recorded 29 July 1987 HMS Conqueror Alongside 26 August 1987 HMS Renown Not recorded 15 November 1987 HMS Renown Clyde 10 October 1988 HMS Valiant Clyde 5 August 1989 HMS Valiant Alongside 22 December 1989 HMS Trenchant At sea 21 November 1991 HMS Superb At sea 3 November 1992 HMS Tireless At sea 11 January 1993 HMS Revenge At sea 29 July 1993 HMS Tireless Alongside 22 October 1993 HMS Sovereign Rosyth 7 April 1994 HMS Sovereign Rosyth 22 August 1995 HMS Victorious Alongside 16 October 1995 HMS Talent Devonport 18 January 1999 HMS Sovereign Clyde 17 June 2001 HMS Victorious At sea 22 April 2002 HMS Vigilant Clyde 11 October 2006 HMS Tireless At sea 21 March 2007
For those incidents where the vessel was either ‘alongside’ or ‘at sea’, the exact location of the vessel is not recorded centrally.
On behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence, I have written to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) to correct the previous statement made on this subject—2 April 2009, Official Report, column 1400W.
[holding answer 14 September 2009]: A decision on reactor design for the future deterrent has not yet been taken. Like other key decisions on the future deterrent, this decision will ultimately be taken by Ministers. The Defence Board will consider the work required during the Concept Phase later this year.
[holding answer 14 September 2009]: The In Service Date is planned for 2024, as set out in the 2006 White Paper. The Defence Board will consider the work required during the Concept Phase later this year.