§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that radio-active loads have been taken by road through the heart of Manchester, Salford and other north-west cities on their way for treatment at Windscale; and if he will give instructions that such built-up areas be avoided to lessen the possibilities of a serious accident.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Atomic Energy Authority transports radioactive loads by road between Windscale and their other establishments. Routes are chosen to avoid congested areas as far as possible and are agreed beforehand with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. Radioactive loads have never been taken by lorry through the middle of Manchester or Salford, though it has sometimes been necessary to take them through the outskirts. Every care is taken both in the design of containers and in the method of loading to ensure that if a serious traffic accident did occur there would be no release of radioactivity. Each consignment is accompanied by an escorting official in a separate vehicle.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied that no serious accident can result from carrying uranium by road through built-up areas between atomic power stations and Windscale; and what further precautions he proposes to lay down.
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§ The Prime MinisterThe methods which will be used to transport radioactive materials between the atomic power stations now under construction and Windscale are being discussed by the Atomic Energy Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board. I am satisfied that they will observe the same high standard of safety precautions as the Atomic Energy Authority do now in the transport of their own radioactive materials.