052/00
29 March, 2000
ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT REVIEW COMPLETE
The Ministry of Defence today confirmed that the AWE ML consortium
will take over management of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)
on 1 April 2000.
The AWE ML consortium comprises three equal partners; Lockheed
Martin, British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) and SERCo. The contract was
signed on 1 December 1999. Information later emerged that cast doubts
on the safety records of BNFL and also Lockheed Martin. MoD
undertook a thorough review to establish whether the new information
had any bearing on future operation of AWE.
MoD's review was comprehensive and included:
- detailed examination of the nine individuals nominated to director
posts by AWE Management Ltd. This was undertaken by the Chief of
Defence Procurement (CDP) who has now confirmed their suitability.
CDP has also confirmed that the BNFL and Lockheed Martin nominees are
not connected with incidents highlighted in US Department of Energy
reports and the events that led to the critical Health and Safety
Executive reports on Sellafield. CDP has also reviewed the conditions
of the contract.
He has re-assessed and re-confirmed that proper emphasis is given to
safety. This has been underpinned by financial commitments linked to
improvements in the safety standards and the undertaking to appoint
an additional independent Director to the AWE board with specific
responsibility for auditing safety.
- independent assurances from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
(NII) that it has no reason to believe that the AWE Management have
contributed to or been influenced by issues raised in their recent
reports on aspects of BNFL's safety and quality assurance management
at Sellafield.
- an interim report by Hugh Collum, the new chairman of BNFL. The
Department of Trade and Industry asked BNFL to review their
organisation and management. This review has not yet concluded but a
dedicated, interim report confirms that events at Sellafield have no
relevance to AWE and that there is no reason to doubt BNFL's
capability to fully deliver their responsibilities as part of the AWE
contract.
This thorough review re-affirms the original assessment of the
consortium parent companies. But the additional review was a prudent
and necessary measure. The absolute priority of MoD is safety. Both
independent bodies, the NII and EA, have confirmed that they are
fully satisfied that AWE's strict and comprehensive safety regime can
be preserved under the new contract.
- ends -
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For further information, please contact Kate O'Connor at the
Defence Press Office .
2. The MoD web-site can be found at http://www.mod.uk
Alternatively you may contact the MoD Press Office by e-mail at
press@dgics.mod.uk
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