PRESS RELEASE

Trident should be scrapped not going for refit

For immediate release: 29 January 2002

Vanguard, the first Trident submarine to be 'rolled out' in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in March 1992 is due to sail into Devonport, Plymouth this weekend for a major technical refit and refuelling of its nuclear reactor lasting two years.

The consortium DML beat Babcock International at Rosyth in Scotland for the refit contract for all four Trident submarines with the Ministry of Defence in a bitter battle which involved competitive underbidding and exaggerated claims for the capabilities of both shipyards.

Devonport was eventually declared ready for the refit in November last year after extensive upgrading work, 2.5 years late and £100 million over budget. There is still a question mark over the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) licensing of the redeveloped 9 Dock.

"Its about time MPs started complaining about waste, inefficiency and delays at the MoD as they have been doing over the NHS," said CND Chair Carol Naughton, "In fact the whole nuclear deterrent is a complete waste of taxpayers money that would be better put to use in the NHS."

The highly dangerous spent uranium fuel which powers Vanguard will be removed from the nuclear reactor in the centre of a populous area and taken by rail to Sellafield in Cumbria for long term storage.

Two years ago at the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference, the UK gave an unequivocal commitment to move towards nuclear disarmament.

"The government has done nothing to abide by this agreement, yet it is required to go to the United Nations in New York in April and explain what it has done since May 2000 to achieve a nuclear weapons-free world", said Carol Naughton, " I shall be there representing CND to tell the world that Britain's contribution to this international treaty is to send its nuclear submarines for upgrading."

Ends

Further information or interviews with Carol Naughton call Press Officer Nigel Chamberlain 020 7700 2350 or 07968 420859

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