Pugwash UK

Verifying Nuclear Disarmament: a Role for AWE Aldermaston

By: Tom Milne and Henrietta Wilson

A Report from The British Pugwash Group
With an Introduction from Professor Jack Harris FRS,
Sir Martin Rees FRS and Sir Joseph Rotblat FRS

Contents

Introduction	1
The Changing Circumstances of the Atomic Weapons Establishment	7
Potential Technical Contributions from the UK to Nuclear Arms Control, Non-proliferation and Disarmament	12
Verifying Nuclear Disarmament	12
Historical Role of the US Nuclear Weapons Laboratories and AWE Aldermaston in Nuclear Arms Control, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament	15
Current and Prospective R&D on Nuclear Arms Control, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament	19
Engaging AWE Scientists in Disarmament Work: Practical Issues	33
Why Aldermaston?	33
From Weapons Development to Arms Control and Disarmament	35
Making Arms Control and Disarmament Work at AWE Accountable	37
Potential Scale of Arms Control and Disarmament Work at AWE	38
An Independent Centre of Expertise on Verifying Nuclear Disarmament	40
The UK's Past Contributions to International Arms Control and Disarmament: Case Studies	43
The UK's Contribution to Monitoring Nuclear Test Explosions	43
The UK's Contribution to Chemical and Biological Warfare Disarmament	46
The UK's Contribution to Monitoring the Destruction of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction	52
Factors That Have Enabled the UK to Contribute to International Arms Control and Disarmament	56
Technical Knowledge - Role of National Laboratories	56
Political Commitment	59
The UK's Negotiating Role	60
The UK's International Political Context	61
Conclusions	62

Further details from: The British Pugwash Group
Ground Floor Flat, 63A Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3BJ, UK
Tel. 44-171-405 6661 Fax 44-171-831 5651
Email pugwash@qmw.ac.uk

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