(asked on 17th September 2020) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) people from Northern Ireland and (b) other people with dual citizenship are barred from taking up positions within the UK with (a) BAE Systema Submarines and (b) the Atomic Weapons Establishment and (c) other defence contractors carrying out contracts for his Department.


Answered by
Jeremy Quin Portrait
Jeremy Quin
This question was answered on 22nd September 2020

The Ministry of Defence is obligated under the Government’s Security Policy Framework to ensure personnel with access to sensitive information are appropriately vetted. We pass on this obligation to our contractors through relevant contractual security conditions which restrict the transfer of SECRET and above SECRET information to employees who hold the right level of security clearance where this is required for the role.

British citizens who hold dual nationality are in principle eligible for employment by the Ministry of Defence and its defence contractors subject to achieving the appropriate level of security clearance. Due to the sensitive nature of the work concerned or International Treaty obligations there are circumstances in which dual nationals cannot be employed. This is likely to include posts within BAE Systems and AWE.

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