PRESS RELEASE

Embargoed for 00.01 hours, Thursday, 23 February 2006

Britain to Participate in US 'Sub-Critical' Nuclear Test

The United Kingdom will participate today in a sub-critical nuclear test conducted by the United States at the Nevada Test Site. Dr Ian Davis, Executive Director of BASIC, said: "this test could be the latest in a series of developments designed to secure Britain's new generation of nuclear weapons before Parliament and the public has had a chance to debate the issue".

British involvement in the US testing programme comes at a time when Washington's actions are putting pressure on the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. The Bush administration refuses to re-submit the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) to Congress for ratification, and boycotted international conferences on the treaty's entry into force in November 2001 and again in September 2005. In addition, Washington is seeking to reduce the amount of time required to prepare a site for a full nuclear weapon test from its current level of two to three years.

The test is said to be part of the US Stockpile Stewardship Programme designed to maintain the safety and reliability of the US nuclear weapons stockpile, but the data could also be used to develop new warhead designs. The Bush administration's funding to modify two existing high-yield warheads for earth penetration (Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator or "Bunker Buster") was blocked by Congress in 2005 and 2006. However, funding was approved for the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program, and some US lawmakers are concerned that this is a cover for new warhead development.

The participation of UK personnel indicates Britain's increased interest in tests relevant to its own existing and future nuclear arsenals.

The British Government would also argue that this collaborative effort, combined with the investment of about £1 billion at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston and Burghfield, is to ensure the safety and reliability of the existing Trident warhead stockpile throughout its intended in-service life. But given the government's stated intention to take a decision about a replacement for the UK Trident system before the end of this Parliament, it may also be looking at possible new warhead designs. Indeed, AWE scientists are clear that the current investment is 'dual-use' and provides the design capability for new warheads if that political decision is taken.

Dr Ian Davis, BASIC's Executive Director, said, "Britain has turned a blind eye to the Bush administration's efforts to undermine the CTBT, and is failing to live up to its own disarmament commitments by indefinitely retaining its nuclear weapons."

He added: "There is an urgent need for more information on the purpose of these sub-critical tests. The lack of transparency and accountability on such an important issue is an affront to participatory democracy."

For more information please contact:

Dr Ian Davis +44 (0)207 324 4685; mobile: 07887 782 389

Notes for Editors

The British Government receives briefings on the scope and outcome of US sub-critical experiments, but this is only the second time the Nevada authorities have openly acknowledged the participation of UK personnel in the tests. The first was for a US-UK sub-critical nuclear test carried out on February 14, 2002.

Tests are "sub-critical", involving less fissile material than that required for a critical mass so no self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction occurs. There is also disagreement among experts as to whether such experiments are permitted within the CTBT, which has been signed by 176 countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, but has not yet entered into force.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

US Department of Energy Nevada Operations Office.

Background on US-UK nuclear weapons collaboration under the Mutual Defence Agreement.

Background on the CTBT, a resource page from BASIC

“Does the U.S. Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship Program Pose a Proliferation Threat?”, in-depth article by the Natural Resources Defense Council, 1998.