§ 49. Mr. Beswickasked the Prime Minister which authority in this country is responsible for monitoring the radiation accumulated by high-flying aircraft; how regularly tests are conducted; to what extent research in this matter has been conducted with regard to both civil and military aircraft; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
No regular monitoring of aircraft is carried out because the measurements taken in the past have suggested that this is unnecessary. The need for additional research on this subject is however reviewed periodically.
§ Mr. BeswickWould not the Lord Privy Seal agree that that Answer is wholly unsatisfactory? What might have been unnecessary in the past may well be very urgent and important today. If the right hon. Gentleman will look at the report which was published from the Pentagon over the weekend, he will see that it is obvious that we are unaware of what is happening in the upper atmosphere. Will he, therefore, look at the matter again?
§ Mr. ButlerI read the previous Question asked by the hon. Member, which was answered by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General, and I have also investigated when the last measurements were taken, which was early this year. At the moment we have no new material which would aid in giving the hon. Member any further information. We have the situation under review.