59. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that port authorities have the necessary monitoring instruments and scientific personnel to enable them to ensure the health and safety of people in the ports visited by nuclear ships; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarplesThe Report of the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear-powered Merchant Ships, published as a Command Paper in 1960, recognised that in the early years while nuclear merchant ships are few, port authorities are not likely to have specialist staff and organisation. The Report recommended therefore that, where a visit of a nuclear ship is contemplated, the port authorities should set up a Port Safety Panel which could call on expert advice from the Government and the Atomic Energy Authority. This was done for the recent visit of the "Savannah" to Southampton.