THE SNP has demanded a full public inquiry into Britain’s failure to safely dispose of any of its nuclear submarines.

Their calls came after an independent government watchdog exposed decades-long delays and massive cost over-runs and defuelling and dismantling the Royal Navy’s Cold war fleet.

The National Audit Office also found that the Ministry of Defence had no plans on how it would scrap its current 10 nuclear-powered submarines, including its four Trident missile carriers.

Seven out-of-service submarines are currently stored at Rosyth - including Polaris boat HMS Revenge - and another 13 near Plymouth. Just storing them has already cost £500 million.

READ MORE: Obsolete nuclear submarines to be dismantled decades later than first expected

SNP Defence spokesperson Stewart McDonald said: “This is a scandal of epic proportions. Eye-watering sums of money are being wasted by the MoD and it is time that those responsible – ministers and officials of the current and previous governments – are called to answer how this sorry situation has been arrived at.

“A public inquiry would allow for the proper scrutiny that the public would expect. The wasting of hundreds of millions of pounds cannot simply be written off.

“It is vital that the authors of this mess explain themselves. The public have a right to know what advice was being given, how sound was that advice and where was sound advice being ignored by ministers?

“Carrying on with submarine renewal whilst this hangs over the Ministry of Defence is wholly unacceptable.

“People in communities like Rosyth will be living with the consequences of the UK’s nuclear folly for years to come.”

Stewart McDonald MP

The NAO on Wednesday said it would take until the late 2060s to dispose of out-of-service submarines and pointedly said a civilian operator would not be allowed to plan new nuclear systems without agreeing a programme for their disposal when they came to the end of their life.”

Mr McDonald, who opposes Trident, added: Quite simply, renewing the Trident fleet with this knowledge is an act of monumental folly.”

Labour MP Meg Hillier, the chairwoman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, earlier said: “The disposal programmes have been beset by lengthy delays and spiralling costs, with taxpayers footing the bill. The ministry needs to get a grip before we run out of space to store and maintain submarines and we damage our reputation as a responsible nuclear power.”

The MoD 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 as soon as practically possible.”

Meg Hillier MP

The MoD has now estimated over the next 120 years it will need £7.5 billion to maintain, dismantle and defuel its nuclear submarines.