§ Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ When they received the report from British Nuclear Fuels plc that plutonium 239 has been released over Cumbria in levels 200 times greater than previous estimates; and whether they will now end the production or separation of plutonium in the United Kingdom.
§ Viscount GoschenMy Lords, in the autumn of 1992 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health received copies of a report written by Professor Steven Jones of BNFL. The Government have no plans to end the production or separation of plutonium in the United Kingdom.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, will the noble Viscount comment on the report, which appeared in the Guardian and other newspapers, that the review which took place had revealed emissions from Sellafield 200 times greater than hitherto reported? Have the Government received such a report? If so, will the noble Viscount comment specifically upon it?
§ Viscount GoschenMy Lords, the report by Professor Jones reassessed the discharges in the early years of the Sellafield site by reference to records made at the time and current assessment procedures. The report has no implication for current or proposed future discharges from the site, which are specifically measured.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, perhaps I may press the noble Viscount further. According to the article in the Guardian—not denied hitherto by the Government—the report, which was officially received by BNFL and passed on to the Government, says that emissions from Sellafield were 200 times greater than previously reported. Is the noble Viscount denying that fact? Is he saying that the Government have not considered the matter? Alternatively, what is he saying?
§ Viscount GoschenNo, my Lords, we are not denying that fact. The report by Professor Jones is the most detailed study yet made of plant discharges of isotopes in the early years. Previous reports carried out in the 1980s used major simplifying assumptions to track back from modern measurements. The new work by Professor Jones shows that for certain isotopes, especially plutonium, such assumptions were incorrect.
§ Lord Morris of Castle MorrisMy Lords, can the Minister say what are the levels of radioactive 536 plutonium in sediment along the Cumbrian coast caused by liquid discharges from Sellafield? If the level is 200 times greater in air pollution, what is it in liquid discharges? Further, does the noble Viscount agree that the level of radiation exposure for people who eat fish and shellfish caught in that area could give rise to serious concern? What are the Government doing to monitor the situation?
§ Viscount GoschenMy Lords, the main source of plutonium in marine sediments is the emission of low-level liquid waste to the Irish Sea, especially emissions that occurred in the 1970s before, extensive improvements were made to effluent treatments in the 1980s. I must reiterate that the figure of 200 refers to an historic figure.
§ Lord MonkswellMy Lords, bearing in mind the fact that pollution and emissions do not respect national boundaries and also the need for Britain to be a good neighbour to the countries that adjoin us, have the Government sent copies of the report to the Irish and Scandinavian governments and taken note of their responses to it?
§ Viscount GoschenMy Lords, the report was written by Professor Jones for BNFL. The report is not secret; indeed, it was given openly as evidence in the recent Reay and Hope leukaemia litigation case and, as I said, was made available to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution and other bodies. The information contained in the report has been passed to the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment. I also understand that Professor Jones is intending to offer the report for publication in a scientific journal in due course.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, although the noble Viscount now says that the report is not secret, it has been kept secret so far. Will he place copies of the report in the Libraries of both Houses so that Members can make up their minds about this difficult but important matter?
§ Viscount GoschenMy Lords, as is customary with scientific research, publication of the report is a matter for Professor Jones as author of the material. I reiterate that the material is not secret. If and when the report is published in a scientific journal, a copy will he placed in the Library of both Houses.