Atomic warheads base sold to US firm

Published on Saturday 20 December 2008 18:37

BRITAIN has sold off its stake in the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment, relinquishing control of nuclear warhead production in the UK, it has been revealed.

A US firm has bought British Nuclear Fuels' one-third share in AWE Management, giving Americans a controlling influence of the facility.

The fee paid by California-based Jacobs Engineering has not been disclosed.

The move was questioned by Opposition MPs, concerned that the production of warheads for the Trident nuclear deterrent and its planned replacement would now be out of British hands.

US defence giant Lockheed Martin and the British plc Serco also own a third of shares each in AWE.

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "The whole argument used for Britain having a separate weapons establishment is that this is required by the non-proliferation treaty, as technology sharing is not allowed.

"We must therefore query the rationale of a US company having a majority shareholding in AWE. How does this all square?"

Tory defence spokesman Gerald Howarth called on ministers to explain the move, adding: "The Atomic Weapons Establishment is critical to Britain's nuclear deterrent capability."

The Ministry of Defence insisted Britain's strategic interests had been protected in the deal.

A spokesman said: "It is the UK Government, not AWE, that sets the UK's nuclear policy. UK sovereign interests remain protected at all times, as does the independence of the UK deterrent. The safe operation of AWE will remain unaffected by the sale.

"MoD worked closely with colleagues in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and British Nuclear Fuels during the sale process to ensure that UK strategic interests were taken into account."