The Ministry of Defence has confirmed, in response to a question from an Alba Party MP, that Scottish police fire and emergency services have held recent discussions on the safety of convoys carrying Trident nuclear weapons driving on roads in Scotland.
The information, which was rarely discussed but already well-known, came to light through an exchange of written Parliamentary questions and answers.
Kenny MacAskill, MP for East Lothian, asked:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has held recent discussions with Scottish police fire and emergency services on the safety of convoys carrying Trident nuclear weapons driving on roads in Scotland.”
Ben Wallace The Secretary of State for Defence, responded:
“Defence Nuclear Materials are transported only when necessary to meet operational requirements, and a wide range of safety and contingency measures are in place to ensure nuclear transport operations are conducted safely. Officials from my Department have regular discussions with all relevant agencies regarding the movement of Defence Nuclear Materials, including with the police, fire and emergency services in Scotland.”
Due to the distance of 720km (450mi) between AWE Aldermaston near London and the UK’s nuclear weapon storage depot at RNAD Coulport, near the submarine base at Faslane, warheads are transported by road in heavily armed convoys by Ministry of Defence Police.
The biggest nuclear risk to Scotland at the moment would likely be fallout from a nuclear facility in Ukraine which has not been properly looked after by Russian occupying forces. Perhaps the NATs should focus their attention there.
But that might mean Kenny & Alex implying criticism of Russia, so not going to happen.
How many years has the MOD been moving nuclear weapons? It’s not as if they haven’t got a clue as what they are doing. I have seen more than one of these convoy’s and it’s pretty impressive what they do!
We used to take them by sea, but Greenpeace CND and the Labour government put an end to it. It was done by sea as it missed most of the high population centres and was considered easier to protect. I’ve done few specials when the RMAS transported the warheads. I did the first Trident warhead move up to Scotland.
What r.m.a.s. vessel was capable of carrying nuclear war heads in the early 90’s ?
RMAS Kinterbury, she was built and fitted out to carry nuke packages. We would be escorted by an Ocean-going tug usually of the Roysterer class. Plus, a warship at a distance. We would have MOD police and Royals or SF on us and the Tug. If we were boarded, we were told we were expendable in defence of the package. We would be told in a 14-day period we would sail to Scotland. 1 trip was cancelled when a tourist boat told over a Tanoy when we were sailing what we were carrying, MOD police inspector in charge went white… Read more »
That’s interesting, Phil, I’d not heard of that. I thought the only moves of nuclear material within the UK for many decades now were via convoys, either DNM or the warheads themselves.
DM, we did a lot of things people wouldn’t think of. Lots of SF work and experimental kit we have carried for test or transport.
I was aware of the SF links. Not the Trident warheads.
A bit of a none story and question, to get certain Alba party nat nobodies some headlines! Of course public services liaise and work with nuclear convoys, routine stuff and well planned skills and drills for a cluster, be it an RTA etc! Keep the noise down alba nobodies please, thanks.
Exactly what I thought after reading it. Of course the local services are involved with moving nuclear cargo through there area.
“Of course public services liaise and work with nuclear convoys”
Quite, I rather think there would be more of a story here if they didn’t work with local emergency services…
I wonder why nuclear weapons are being moved into place… 🤔