§ 91. Mr. Benceasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what steps he is taking to maintain a monitoring service of the large areas of fresh water exposed to fall-out from recent nuclear tests in Russia.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethA representative selection of public water sources has been monitored for several years for radioactive strontium and caesium. In addition the Government have put in hand special measures to test water supplies for Iodine 131. The first results have not shown any appreciable amount of this isotope in water supplies from large areas of fresh water.
§ 92. Mr. Grimondasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science where testing for effects of nuclear fall-out is carried on in Scotland; and if he will publish the results for various districts separately.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethRadioactivity in milk is measured in samples from over 40 depots in Scotland from Orkney to Dumfriesshire. Potatoes and brassicas drawn from Scottish counties are sampled as part of the national survey of strontium 90 and caesium 137.
Measurements of radioactivity in air are carried out at Eskdalemuir, and in rainwater at Kinloss.
Water supplies for Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen are tested for radiostrontium and radiocaesium as part of a continuing programme. In addition, for the present, water from these sources and from others in Ross-shire and Inverness-shire is being tested for iodine 131.
Results, showing in many cases the districts from which samples were drawn, are published in the form which gives the best guidance for the assessment of their significance.