VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Nuclear Installations: Safety

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 20 October 2025UIN 79411

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of recent Nuclear Site Event Reports on (a) equipment failures, (b) human error, (c) procedural shortcomings and (d) near-misses.

Answered by Luke Pollard

I cannot provide specific detail for the events as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of any relevant forces. However, I can assure the hon. Member that none of the events listed caused harm to the health of any member of staff or to any member of the public and none have resulted in any radiological impact to the environment.

The table below shows the number of Nuclear Site Event Reports (NSERs) at Coulport recorded between for the most recent financial year. These are shown according to agreed categorisation:

Nuclear Site Events- 2024, 22 April 2024 - 31 December 2024

Category A

Category B

Category C

Category D

Below Scale

Coulport

0

0

9

25

1

Nuclear Site Events- 2025, 01 January 2025 - 22 April 2025

Category A

Category B

Category C

Category D

Below Scale

Coulport

0

0

4

9

0

In line with Industry Good Practice and in common with other defence and civil nuclear sites, His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde has a well-established system for raising NSERs.

NSERs are raised to foster a robust safety culture that learns from experience, whether that is of equipment failures, human error, procedural failings, documentation shortcomings or near-misses.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim