HL Deb 08 July 1959 vol 217 cc925-6

Clause 1, page 1, line 13, leave out from first "for" to end of line 16 and insert—

  1. ("(i) the production or use of atomic energy; or
  2. (ii) the carrying out of any process which is preparatory or ancillary to the production or use of atomic energy and which involves or is capable of causing the emission of ionising radiations; or
  3. (iii) the storage, processing or disposal of nuclear fuel or of bulk quantities of other radio-active matter being matter which has been produced or irradiated in the course of the production or use of nuclear fuel,")

LORD MILLS

My Lords, the purpose of Clause 1 (1) (b) is to enable the Bill to be applied, as the progress of the nuclear power industry may require, to any installation other than a reactor which presents a comparable public hazard. The provision as originally drafted would have enabled the Bill to be applied to some installations which, although used for processes ancillary to the production of atomic energy, nevertheless present no such hazard; for example, installations where graphite blocks for reactor moderators or beryllium cans for containing fuel elements are made. The same consideration applies to places for the treatment, storage or disposal of radio isotopes in small quantities or of the less radio- active types. This Amendment is intended to define more precisely the types of potentially dangerous installation to which the Bill may be extended by regulations. I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.

Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Lord Mills.)

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, this Amendment, again, seems to be an entirely satisfactory one. I think it is just worth while asking the Minister this question: there are dangerous materials which are not necessarily radioactive, such as beryllium, and I take it that the ordinary factory legislation and control will apply.

LORD MILLS

My Lords, that is correct.

On Question, Motion agreed to.