AWE to get £15bn defence spending for nuclear programme at Aldermaston

The Government has announced a £15bn investment in the nuclear warhead programme at AWE in Aldermaston and Burghfield.

The move comes as the Government publishes the outcome of its Strategic Defence Review, accepting all 62 recommendations to ‘protect the UK’s national security against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical threats’.

The Government has also confirmed that an additional 12 conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet will be built.

It is Labour’s triple lock commitment to the nuclear deterrent which is to ‘maintain our continuous at-sea deterrent; to build the new fleet of Dreadnought submarines; and to deliver all future upgrades necessary’.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Reading West and Mid Berkshire MP Olivia Bailey said that the £15bn investment will be “crucial for national security” and “transformational for Reading West and Mid Berkshire”.

The investment will include billions for the modernisation of infrastructure at the Aldermaston site and will support more than 9,000 jobs at Aldermaston, in addition to thousands of jobs in the defence supply chain in Reading West and Mid Berkshire and across the UK, she said.

Secretary of state for defence John Healey said that he celebrated the “essential and unique work” done by AWE.

He highlighted the ‘Defence Dividend’ that will benefit the people of Reading West and Mid Berkshire through investment in AWE and the supply chain.

Ms Bailey said: “I am proud to represent a constituency that is so vital to this country’s national security, with thousands of people working in the defence sector to keep us safe.

“This is a significant investment in this country’s national security and reinforces my constituency’s place at the very forefront of the UK defence sector.”

In a statement, AWE said “The UK Defence Spending Review, announced by the Prime Minister, outlines significant investment in nuclear security, including the modernisation of infrastructure at AWE.

“AWE’s nuclear warhead programme features some of the most advanced and sensitive science, engineering and manufacturing facilities in the UK.

“Both the UK’s sovereign warhead programme and the UK’s conventionally-armed submarine fleet will make Britain and NATO safe for decades to come.”