SAFETY AT HMNB CLYDE (FASLANE)

That this House views with alarm the revelations of Able Seaman William McNeilly, published by The Sunday Herald, in which he catalogues a series of security breaches and safety failings both at HMNB Clyde (Faslane) and aboard the UK’s nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed submarines; believes that, if substantiated, Mr McNeilly’s allegations would reveal an extremely worrying culture within the Submarine Service of lax security, including bags being taken aboard HMS Vanguard unchecked and an indifferent approach to routine safety procedures when dealing with both weapons and other nuclear systems, for example, the ignoring of the Reader-Worker Routine when removing inverters from the Trident missiles at the end of a patrol; further believes that Mr McNeilly’s 18-page document paints a picture of diminishing safety standards and gives rise to grave concerns as to whether there are sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced personnel now available to the Service to be able to guarantee the safety and security of the UK’s nuclear-armed submarines; fears that, without such personnel, the chances of a catastrophic nuclear accident are greatly increased; and therefore calls on the Ministry of Defence to instigate an immediate, transparent and thorough investigation into Mr NcNeilly’s allegations and for the findings of that investigation to be placed in the public domain as soon as possible.