Radioactivity

HC Deb 26 June 1986 vol 100 cc458-9

10. Mr. Robert Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibility local authorities bear to ensure that information on local levels of radioactivity is disseminated rapidly to all concerned organisations and departments.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Under the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983 local authorities must plan for the collection and distribution of information about the effects of hostile attack. There is no analogous responsibility for peacetime disasters. The Government's review of emergency arrangements in the light of the Chernobyl incident will include the role of local authorities.

Mr. Banks

I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. Who is responsible for measuring radiation in local areas, and is he satisfied that they have a sufficient number of radiation detectors? In view of the lack of information following the Chernobyl disaster about what people should or should not do, will he ensure that machinery is set up to cope with any future incident of a similar nature?

Mr. Shaw

I assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be conducting a wide-ranging review of all forms of monitoring of an incident of this character. As for civil defence, my hon. Friend will be aware that the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation does not have instruments that could measure such low levels of radiation as those that have recently been experienced.

Mr. Corbett

Given that local authorities rely in part on the National Radiological Protection Board, has the Minister seen its June bulletin, which protests that "in recent years the cash limit has been systematically reduced in real terms"?

How can the public have faith in the advice of either the board or the Government on radiation levels if the board is denied adequate funds with which to carry out its independent role?

Mr. Shaw

The board's role, and indeed the system over which it presides, will be considered in the assessment of the post-Chernobyl situation.

Mr. Neil Thorne

Will my hon. Friend consider the possibility of supplying radiation survey meters to all local authorities as soon as possible so that the population may be reassured, whenever necessary, if there should be a future disaster similar to the one at Chernobyl?

Mr. Shaw

Im my previous answer I said that the role of local authorities will be considered in the review of the post-Chernobyl incident. My hon. Friend should be aware that it is essential to have a national system wherby accurate measurements of this kind can be issued to the public in an understandable way.

Mr. Meadowcroft

Does the Minister accept that local authorities are keen to assist with the dissemination of such important information? What information has been sent by his Department to local authorities since the Chernobyl disaster that might assist them in carrying out their duties in this regard?

Mr. Shaw

The Home Office has not issued information of that kind to local authorities, but the hon. Gentleman will recognise that in relation to civil defence, which is a Home Office responsibility, the passage of the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Upminster (Sir N. Bonsor) will allow local authorities to use civil defence grants to cover peacetime disasters as well.