DOZENS of redundant nuclear submarines have waited decades — one for more than 40 years — to be dismantled, and the backlog is set to grow without action, Parliament has heard.

Labour Defence Minister Lord Coaker told the House of Lords on Wednesday that the breaking-up of the rotting hulks must be accelerated.

Peers heard that not only will the backlog shortly be joined by the present fleet, but the next generation of subs have a service life of just 20 years, potentially storing up even greater challenges in future.

Seven decommissioned and defuelled subs currently lie at Rosyth and 15 at Devonport in Plymouth, only four of which have their spent fuel removed, but Lord Coaker told peers that disposal of Swiftsure, which left service in 1992, was now being used as “a demonstrator” and be completed by 2026.

Challenging the minister, Labour peer Baroness Pauline Bryan said: “There remains real concern that not one of these submarines has yet been dismantled.

“Bearing in mind that one Dreadnought submarine in Rosyth has been out of service since 1980, it will take decades to dismantle the boats remaining in both Scotland and Devonport.

“Can the minister say whether there has been any progress in finding a site for the radioactive waste disposal facility which will be essential to progressing this work?”

Lord Coaker responded: “On all the things she mentions there is progress and ongoing discussions, including the waste disposal site, but we are trying to speed up the submarine dismantling programme.”

Stating government was “looking at every way in which we can do that”, he added: “I am confident that the processes that we are seeking to put in place will speed that up and that they are safe.”