§ 45. Mrs. Mannasked the Prime Minister if he has studied the report, a copy of which is in his possession, from the Royal College of Science and Technology. Glasgow, describing the effect on antlers of deer and teeth of sheep, on the hillsides of Perthshire, of radioactivity from bomb dust; and if he will make a statement to relieve the concern expressed by the doctors about strontium 90 in hydrogen bomb fall out.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I have seen the letter published in Nature to which the hon. Member is, I understand, referring. I am advised that the small quantities of strontium detected are not inconsistent with measurements already reported, and do not imply any threat to human health
§ Mrs. MannIs the Prime Minister aware that in this excellent journal, published by a firm known as "Macmillan". it is suggested that strontium activity in 1952 was 11.2 units, and that last year, with the same tests and in the same districts, there were 126 units of strontium activity? Is not the limit 120 and is not that an astonishing increase?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I think the hon. Lady is confusing the problem as regards certain animal bones and the problem regarding human bones. It is here stated that activity of 126 units was found, but figures published for 1956 by the Atomic Energy Authority for the bones of animals from hill areas run up to 160 units; so there is nothing novel in this particular statement. Of course, samples of human bones are monitored regularly and the results published. The latest published this summer, which were placed in the Library, show nothing more than a small fraction of the permissible level.