Sale of Nuclear Programme Stake Causes Anger
The UK has sold its share in the UK Nuclear Deterrent Programme
British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), has announced that its part-ownership of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) programme is now over, with its stake having been bought by American company Jacobs Engineering Group, which is based in California.
What is the AWE?
The Atomic Weapons Establishment programme controls the building and maintainence of the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons. The programme is owned by two other parties: Lockheed-Martin, the American Defence company and the British firm, Serco. The sale means that the British State no longer owns the programme which controls the UK's nuclear weapons. The programme is based in Aldermaston, in the county of Berkshire and is reponsible for the construction of the UK's main nuclear deterrent-the Trident missile which is submarine based. The UK's nuclear deterrent is organised in this fashion due to submarine-based missiles being deemed the most effective nuclear deterrent.
How Has the News of the Sale Been Received?
Opposition MPs have expressed the concern that the sale was made due to a need to rasie funds for the Treasury.
The defence spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat party, Nick Harvey said on the Lib Dem Website on 20 December 2008 "It is staggering that the government could do something of such strategic importance without informing parliament."
The Conservative party, the main opposition to the current Labour government, have called for the government to make an announcement and provide an explanation regarding the deal. This controversy has arisen due to the government bypassing parliament in its decision making.
The monetry details of the deal have not yet been released, although it was suggested by Liberal Democrat spokesman Vince Cable that the agreement was "probably in the millions, rather than the billions". This statement coincides with fears that the stakes may have been grossly undervalued by the Government.
A spokesman from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said: "It is the Government, not the AWE, that sets the UK's nuclear policy". (BBC News Website) The MOD also stated that that sale would have no effect on the independence of the British nuclear deterrent, or the safe operation of the Atomic Weapons Establishment. These announcemnts are backed up by the Government saying that it retains the ability to reclaim control over the site should it feel it necessary. This is due to a "Special Share" of the programme that the Government has retained.
The site at Aldermaston is owned by the Minsitry of Defence, but work at the plant has been carried out by contractors since 1993. It employs 4,500 people .
What Happens to the AWE Now?
The current venture, between BNFL, Serco and Lockheed-Martin have a deal that they will run the establishment until 2025 having been appointed in 2000.
Sources:
BBC News Website
Politics.co.uk
Trident Missile
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