NIS Update: March 2014

UK and France extend warhead research collaboration into new areas

The UK and France will dramatically extend co-operation on nuclear warhead physics research under a new agreement reached by Prime Minister David Cameron and President François  Hollande at their January 2014 summit at RAF Brize Norton.  Read more here.

 

Nuclear weapons factory under investigation by safety watchdog for failing to comply with radioactive waste management orders

The Atomic Weapons Establishment – the factory where the UK's nuclear weapons are designed and made – is under investigation by the government's nuclear safety watchdog for failing to comply with instructions for managing a growing backlog of radioactive waste.  Read more here.

 

Shortlist of potential storage sites for submarine radioactive waste published

The Ministry of Defence has published a shortlist of five nuclear sites across the UK which it has  identified as potential locations for the storage of radioactive waste from disused nuclear-powered submarines.  Read more here.

 

Round-the-clock deployment not necessary for Britain's nuclear forces to remain credible

Britain could end round-the-clock Trident submarine patrols and still maintain a credible nuclear deterrent effect according to a new analysis from a military think tank.  Read more here.

 

Deeper debate needed on Trident replacement and defence needs, says new report

Britain's nuclear weapons are irrelevant to any existing and foreseeable threats posed by foreign states and there is an urgent need for a wider and more informed public and parliamentary debate about their replacement, according to a new study published by the Nuclear Education Trust.  Read more here.

 

'Point of no return' reached in international campaign to ban nuclear weapons

An international conference aimed at exploring the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons has been hailed as a “point of no return” in the campaign to commence negotiation of a legally binding international treaty to ban nuclear weapons.  Read more here.

 

Ministry of Defence equipment procurement performance improving – but risks remain

The Ministry of Defence’s equipment procurement budget is now more stable,  but there are still risks to the affordability of the military equipment plan according to an annual review from the government's auditor.  Read more here.

 

Over fifty British universities funded by the Atomic Weapons Establishment

More than fifty universities have received funding from the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), the laboratory responsible for designing and manufacturing the UK's nuclear weapons, according to a new study conducted by Nuclear Information Service and Medact.  Read our blog article about universities and nuclear weapons here, and watch the video of the report launch event here.

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