The UK’s reputation as a “responsible nuclear power” is under threat because of the Ministry of Defence’s failure to properly dispose of obsolete nuclear submarines.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has described the MoD’s efforts to deal with decommissioned subs as “dismal” with 20 of the vessels in storage, twice as many as are currently on active service.

Seven have been in storage longer than they were actually operational with the Royal Navy.

The boats being stored include the first submarines used to carry the UK’s nuclear deterrent – the Polaris boats HMS Revenge, HMS Renown, HMS Repulse and HMS Resolution.

Attack submarine HMS Conqueror, which sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano during the Falklands War is another of the boats in storage.

Nine of the stored subs still have irradiated fuel on board, with no retired craft being defuelled since 2004 , when regulators said facilities did not meet required standards.

The process not due to start again until 2023, with the cost of disposing of a submarine put at £96m.

Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said: “For more than 20 years the Ministry of Defence has been promising to dismantle its out-of-service nuclear submarines and told my committee last year that it would now address this dismal lack of progress.

“It has still not disposed of any of the 20 submarines decommissioned since 1980 and does not yet know fully how to do it.

“The disposal programmes have been beset by lengthy delays and spiralling costs, with taxpayers footing the bill.

“The ministry needs to get a grip urgently before we run out of space to store and maintain submarines and we damage our reputation as a responsible nuclear power.”

Decommissioned vessels are being stored at Devonport and Rosyth while arrangements are made to safely dispose of them.

The MoD has put its total future liability for maintaining and disposing of stored and in-service nuclear-powered craft at £7.5bn over the next 120 years, underlining the long-term nature of nuclear waste.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “”The disposal of nuclear submarines is a complex and challenging undertaking.

“We remain committed to the safe, secure and cost-effective de-fuelling and dismantling of all decommissioned nuclear submarines as soon as practically possible.”

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