HC Deb 07 April 1959 vol 603 cc5-7
7 and 8. Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the recommendations made to industrial firms for the handling and disposal of radioactive industrial waste; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will publish as a White Paper the regulations governing the disposal by industrial firms of radioactive industrial waste, together with a description of the appropriate State organisation responsible for the publicising and enforcing of such regulations.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. J. Nixon Browne)

An expert panel of the Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee has reported on the best way to control the handling and disposal of radioactive waste. The Government will shortly be consulting the local authority associations and others interested about proposals for legislation and the issue of a White Paper will then be considered.

In the meantime, my right hon. Friend's officers will continue to give advice to firms in Scotland and to local authorities, and the Atomic Energy Authority are willing as an interim measure to assist in the disposal of radioactive waste which cannot safely be disposed of locally.

Mr. Lawson

Am I right in thinking that at present there are no regulations governing the disposal of such waste? If that is so, the reply given by the hon. Gentleman will be heard with great satisfaction? Will he bear in mind that in this matter the interests of the public as well as of the handlers of the material should be taken into account? Will he therefore see that local health authorities have a large voice in ensuring that whatever regulations are passed are carried out?

Mr. Browne

Yes. The hon. Member is right in relation to industrial waste; that is, waste from industrial firms. My right hon. Friend, in conjunction with other Ministers, will do everything he can to bring this to a satisfactory conclusion.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

Will my hon. Friend also consider consulting farming interests about their view on this matter, because in many cases there have been protests about damage to stock? This is a fairly old story. Will my hon. Friend look into it and bear in mind that farmers, especially the Scottish N.F.U., may have something useful to tell us?

Mr. Browne

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is being kept fully informed.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the Joint Under-Secretary aware that this is the second time in recent months when alarming broadcasts have had to be made as a result of what appears to be carelessness in that it has been possible for outsiders to touch this material? Children have been involved in both cases and the public are alarmed at this apparent carelessness in dealing with this dangerous material.

Mr. Browne

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that in this case there was no carelessness. It was a very unfortunate occurrence. The firm was doing what the Alkali Inspectorate had suggested that it should do, and there is no cause for public alarm.

Mr. Woodburn

If it was possible for children to get their hands on this material, it seems that the precautions have not been sufficient. Is the Minister prepared to see that they are made sufficient in the future?

Mr. Browne

In the particular instance they have been already made sufficient.