Navy chiefs ask why 'minor spillage' set off nuclear alert

alert after the spillage of radioactive coolant.

While fully satisfied that its emergency procedures were properly

implemented when the alarm was raised, the Ministry of Defence was

nevertheless left slightly embarrassed that a ''relatively minor

incident'' reached such levels.

As the commodore of the Clyde base instigated inquiry proceedings and

began interviewing key personnel, an MoD spokesman confirmed that the

remit of the investigation would centre on the over-cautious approach

taken.

He said the inquiry would concentrate on the apparent over-reaction to

the situation. ''The inquiry is being conducted internally and at this

stage it is unclear whether it will lead to disciplinary action.

''There was an over-reaction to events and this matter will be

examined carefully. Unfortunately, as we take these matters seriously,

the information relayed from the boat seems to have been misinterpreted

and someone called a full-scale nuclear accident alert.''

The spokesman added that it was unlikely that the results of the

inquiry would involve changes to the procedures as the MOD was satisfied

they worked well in the circumstances.

The alarm was raised shortly before 1.30am on Sunday when a pint of

radioactive coolant being piped from the Polaris submarine HMS Repulse's

cooling system to a tank outside the hull spilt on the deck.

Three sailors working on deck were sprayed by the radioactive liquid

and were subsequently decontaminated following the leak.

The MoD spokesman stressed that none of the liquid went into the Gare

Loch or went near the boat's nuclear reactor.

Last night, the Labour MP for Dumbarton, Mr John McFall, said he had

written to Defence Secretary Malcolm Rifkind seeking an explanation as

to how the incident happened.

He is also concerned that, according to information he had obtained,

there was a delay of more than an hour before the police at Helensburgh

were informed of the alert by the submarine base.

''This is obviously quite alarming and I have asked Mr Rifkind if all

the regulations were adhered to. If this was not the case then I will be

demanding assurances that the safety scheme is upgraded.

''My suspicion is that not all the regulations were carried out after

the alarm was raised and hopefully lessons will have been learnt from

this,'' the MP said.

The incident was raised during a Commons defence debate yesterday by

Labour's Front Bench spokesman Mr George Foulkes.

He told Defence Procurement Minister Jonathan Aitken that there was a

great deal of concern in the area surrounding the base because there had

been a number of previous leaks, and demanded to know what was being

done to prevent a recurrence.

Mr Foulkes, MP for Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley, said there

seemed to be an ''endemic'' problem with Polaris submarines and demanded

action, but his claims were dismissed by Mr Aitken, who said it had been

a ''minor incident''.

Mr Foulkes rose again to challenge the Minister, asking: ''Would you

not accept there has been a series of incidents and the next time round

it might not be a minor, but a major occurrence?''

Mr Aitken told him: ''We believe that we make every effort to maintain

the highest possible safety standards. It would be wrong to suggest this

is a harbinger of a major incident.''