HC Deb 05 April 1955 vol 539 cc1003-4

70. Mr. Hayman asked the Minister of Works what steps the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is taking to provide more satisfactory containers for lethal atomic waste and safer unloading facilities, in view of the accident to the ship "Fort Rosalie" when dumping a cargo of such waste into the Atlantic recently.

Mr. Birch

No lethal atomic waste was involved in this operation. Part of the outer casing of one of the containers was slightly damaged, but there was no release of radioactive material.

Mr. Hayman

Why was it necessary to go a thousand mile into the Atlantic to dump this waste if proper precautions were not taken to ensure that the containers were whole and that the methods of handling them had been properly studied beforehand?

Mr. Birch

An accident took place in this case.