Atomic Weapons Establishment

Nick Harvey
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when an improvement plan to reduce risks at Atomic Weapons Establishment sites will be prepared.

Mr. Quentin Davies
Effective risk management underpins all activities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), including nuclear operations, technical programmes and construction work. This is undertaken in close consultation with the Ministry of Defence, regulators and other stakeholders.

A formal improvement plan does not exist, but continuous improvement is a fundamental part of safety management, and is embedded in all work relating to safety.

Safety cases have been developed for every nuclear process and activity at AWE sites. These are based on the principle that risks should be as low as reasonably practicable. All AWE risks are managed continuously and proactively with stakeholders, in accordance with AWE's licence under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.