§ 13. Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food how many inspectors are employed by his Department to analyse and control the aqueous discharges of radioactive substances into the seas and rivers adjoining nuclear power plant installations.
§ Mr. John HareThere are eight officers in my Ministry concerned with controlling such discharges from nuclear power and other nuclear installations.
§ Captain PilkingtonCan my right hon. Friend say whether there have been many aqueous discharges of radioactive substances? If so, how do the 1959 figures compare with those for 1958?
§ Mr. HareI should like notice of that supplementary question. I should like to give full details, but it does not really arise out of this question.
§ Mr. BullardOn the general question of the discharge of material into rivers, is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the river boards have staff at their disposal able to deal with the matter? There are responsibilities in this matter apart from radioactive substances. The boards' responsibilities have recently been considerably increased by an Act passed by this House. There is widespread concern about whether the river boards have at their disposal adequate technical advice.
§ Mr. HareThis is a more specialised function than that carried out by river boards. That is why I have special officers designated to carry out these very technical functions. I do not think it would come within the normal functions of a board to be able to undertake the very scientific study of this work which is necessary.