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| Shares sold in UK weapons plant | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government has sold its last remaining shares in the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment in Berkshire to an American company. | The government has sold its last remaining shares in the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment in Berkshire to an American company. |
| The move means Britain no longer has any stake in the production of its Trident nuclear warheads. | The move means Britain no longer has any stake in the production of its Trident nuclear warheads. |
| Opposition MPs have criticised the sale, but the Ministry of Defence said Britain's "sovereign interests" had been protected. | Opposition MPs have criticised the sale, but the Ministry of Defence said Britain's "sovereign interests" had been protected. |
| The fee paid by California-based Jacobs Engineering has not been disclosed. | The fee paid by California-based Jacobs Engineering has not been disclosed. |
| The sale of British Nuclear Fuels' stake means Jacobs has control of one third of Aldermaston's operating company, AWE Management. | The sale of British Nuclear Fuels' stake means Jacobs has control of one third of Aldermaston's operating company, AWE Management. |
| The other two thirds were already in private hands. They are split equally between American defence giant Lockheed Martin and the British plc Serco. | The other two thirds were already in private hands. They are split equally between American defence giant Lockheed Martin and the British plc Serco. |
| Aldermaston is responsible for the production of warheads for the Trident nuclear deterrent programme and its planned replacement. | Aldermaston is responsible for the production of warheads for the Trident nuclear deterrent programme and its planned replacement. |
| 'Unaffected' | 'Unaffected' |
| The Conservatives said the government must explain the move. The safe operation of AWE will remain unaffected by the sale Ministry of Defence spokesman | The Conservatives said the government must explain the move. The safe operation of AWE will remain unaffected by the sale Ministry of Defence spokesman |
| Defence spokesman Gerald Howarth said: "The Atomic Weapons Establishment is critical to Britain's nuclear deterrent capability." | Defence spokesman Gerald Howarth said: "The Atomic Weapons Establishment is critical to Britain's nuclear deterrent capability." |
| 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. | 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?" | "We must therefore query the rationale of a US company having a majority shareholding in AWE. How does this all square?" |
| The sale was announced in a one paragraph statement on the BNFL website. | The sale was announced in a one paragraph statement on the BNFL website. |
| The Lib Dems said it was staggering that Parliament had not been properly informed. | The Lib Dems said it was staggering that Parliament had not been properly informed. |
| The Ministry of Defence insisted Britain's strategic interests had been "taken into account". | The Ministry of Defence insisted Britain's strategic interests had been "taken into account". |
| A spokesman said: "It is the UK government, not AWE, that sets the UK's nuclear policy. | 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." | "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." |
| Aldermaston has been the headquarters for the UK's atomic warhead capability for more than 50 years. | Aldermaston has been the headquarters for the UK's atomic warhead capability for more than 50 years. |