HC Deb 01 August 1956 vol 557 cc1393-4
45 and 46. Mr. R. Edwards

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what arrangements there are for controlling and keeping records of all dumping of radio-active material in the ocean;

(2) what steps he is taking to institute safe standards for marine disposal of radio-active materials.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)

Only mildly radio-active material is disposed of by dumping in the sea and prior authorisation is required from the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who sets limits to the amount to be dumped in any one area, taking into account the nature of the material. A responsible official of the Atomic Energy Authority witnesses each disposal. He provides the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with a record of the total weight and number of containers dumped, the area of dumping and an assurance that the conditions stipulated by the Minister have been fulfilled.

The containers in which the material is enclosed are strong enough to resist corrosion for long periods, so that by the time the waste products begin to escape, the radio-activity will have substantially decayed. No health hazard is therefore involved.

Mr. Edwards

I wonder if the Lord Privy Seal has studied the report produced in Washington by the National Academy of Science, one of whose nine recommendations suggested the urgent necessity for international control of the dumping of radio-active materials in the ocean and the recording of such dumping? In view of this very important report, would not the Government be prepared to look at the need for international control of such dumping?

Mr. Butler

I do not think that we need go in for international control of such dumping. Of course, I am aware of the report to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I think that the answer I have given about the really almost uninteresting level of the health hazard should reassure hon. Members. The hon. Gentleman may be glad to hear that the levels of radiation to which staff who take part in the dumping operations are exposed are limited by internationally accepted standards, so to that extent we do pay attention to international standards.

Mr. Usborne

Why should the United Nations not be asked to keep a record of the places where this material is dumped, in case later on it may be discovered that there is greater radio-activity than is now known?

Mr. Butler

I will investigate whether it should be the United Nations or not, but I am certainly ready to listen to what the hon. Member has suggested.