Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to increase the transparency of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator.

We have taken the step to not publish the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's Annual Assurance Reports as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This step has not prevented the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme being reported to Ministers, nor has it prevented its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.

The Government recognises that there is legitimate interest in nuclear safety, but we would not publish information that could be exploited by potential adversaries, compromising our national security. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the Department's priority.