Ministerial visit as nuclear site set to expand

John Healey visited Aldermaston weeks after announcing a £15bn spending boost for AWE

The UK's nuclear weapons centre in Berkshire is providing security for "generations to come", the defence secretary has said.

John Healey visited the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston to mark its 75th anniversary.

The site is part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) - the partnership of organisations that operate, maintain and develop the UK's nuclear deterrent.

The recent Strategic Defence Review included £15bn spending on the nuclear warhead programme. More than 1,500 jobs have been created at the Aldermaston site in the past year, the government has said.

Scientists and engineers at Aldermaston are working on the next generation of nuclear warheads

AWE has two sites in Berkshire - one in Aldermaston and one in Burghfield - developing and manufacturing the country's nuclear deterrent, which sees a nuclear-armed submarine at sea continuously.

Earlier this month, the government announced it would be adding to the UK's defence systems, including 12 new attack submarines, with upgrades coming to the AWE.

During his visit - the first by a defence secretary since 2018 - Mr Healey met staff working to create the next generation of warheads, replacing those on the Trident nuclear-weapons system.

The media was also given rare access to the facility. Scientists showed the Orion laser system which recreates conditions in a warhead at the point of detonation.

Mr Healey was shown some of the work carried out at the hi-tech facility

Building work is also underway on a new so-called hub on the site which will accommodate up to 3,000 engineers when it is finished.

Mr Healey said: "It's the historic site which for 75 years has been at the heart of the UK's ability to build, develop and maintain our independent nuclear deterrent.

"What the workforce do is a source of great pride for us all but also provides us with that ultimate security - for this country and to our Nato allies.

He said the £15bn spending would support AWE's workforce of 9,500 at Aldermaston, with 1,500 new skilled staff and double the number of apprentices and graduates joining in the past 12 months.

"It's investment now for the security of our generations to come.

"It's not just about the scientists on site - its the supply chain and the opportunities for young people in Reading and beyond," he said.