§ 50. Mr. Masonasked the Prime Minister if he will prepare and publish a White Paper dealing with research in radioactive fall-out resulting from atom and hydrogen bomb tests, and including also a section dealing with the effectiveness of the monitoring system in operation for scrutinising the after-effects of waste fission products from the atomic power stations.
§ The Prime MinisterCurrent programmes of research are outlined in the annual reports of the Medical Research Council, and figures showing the level of strontium 90 in bone and other substances are published from time to time. I would refer to the reply which I gave on 31st October last on the machinery for monitoring fall-out.
As regards the last part of the Question, the discharge of radioactive waste from the establishments of the Atomic 203 Energy Authority is strictly controlled in accordance with the requirements of Section 5 of the Atomic Energy Authority Act of 1954. These were referred to in the recent report on the Organisation for Control of Health and Safety in the Atomic Energy Authority (Cmnd. 342). The question of the control of waste from nuclear power stations to be built in future is at present being studied in connection with the proposals for the licensing and inspection of nuclear reactors, about which the Government intend to introduce legislation in due course.
§ Mr. MasonI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, but I should be glad to know if he will reconsider what I ask in the second part of my Question about a White Paper on the monitoring system for the after-effects of waste fission products. This is bound to be a growing problem after all the nineteen atomic power stations come into being, and there is very little information. Should we really not have a White Paper?
§ The Prime MinisterI will certainly consider that, but the hon. Gentleman knows, I think, that the matter is being actively pursued by the Authority in accordance with its statutory duty.