According to figures obtained by a national newspaper, there were 105 ‘nuclear safety events’ officially recorded at the Faslane and Coulport submarine and bomb bases in 2013-14, compared to 68 in 2012-13.

Most of the incidents last year (99) involved the reactors that power Trident and other Royal Navy submarines. The remaining six involved nuclear weapons, which are carried by Trident submarines and stored at Coulport.

The MoD has not given details of all the incidents, but a spokesman dismissed the focus on the number of incidents, stressing that they were minor and did not endanger the health of workers or the public. He said the ‘rigorous system’ for recording incidents shows how seriously they take ‘all aspects of nuclear safety’.

Forty-five of the events in 2013-14 were categorised as level C, meaning there was ‘moderate potential for future release or exposure, or localised release within a designated radiological controlled area’.

The other 60 incidents were classified as level D. This is defined by the MoD as ‘low potential for release - but may contribute towards an adverse trend producing latent conditions’.

Angus Robertson MP, SNP Westminster leader and defence spokesperson called the figures ‘totally shocking’. He added: “Wherever nuclear weapons or reactors are concerned – safety must be paramount.” However, Helensburgh and Lomond Councillor George Freeman said that there has been no ‘serious concerns’ raised at meetings with the MoD. He said: “Along with other councillors in my Lomond North Ward and local Community Council representatives, I attend the Local Liaison Committee meetings each year with the MoD, Police Scotland, the Health Service, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and many other statutory bodies where such issues are reviewed and discussed.

“It must be borne in mind that by far the majority of incidents that are recorded are very minor issues that have no direct link to nuclear safety. Having said that, I am aware that there are many organisations such as CND and others who wish to try and highlight these issues so as to try and increase the opposition to anything classed as ‘nuclear’.” A spokesman for HMNB Clyde said: “It is entirely misleading to focus only on the number of incidents detailed in these reports, as they include very minor issues such as the failure to fill out the correct form before painting works began.

“This rigorous system shows how seriously the MoD takes all aspects of nuclear safety, ensuring lessons are learned, and we can be clear that none of the events in the reports posed any risk to the health of our personnel, or to any members of the public.”