§ 40. Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the results of the regular surveys for radioactivity in Holy Loch for the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HealeyAs was announced recently in the Press, surveys in April and May showed that the amount of background radioactivity, although still low, had increased more than would have been expected from past experience. A full and detailed survey was therefore carried out.
The radioactivity was identified as coolant discharge from the submarines' reactor plants and a joint U.K./U.S. assessment of the results confirmed our view that the radiation levels were still far below those which would be at all likely to cause any individual to receive an annual dose rate approaching the limits acceptable for members of the general public as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
However, in order to ensure that the radiation level remains below any point of possible danger to the public the 85W United States Navy are willingly co-operating with us in taking additional protective measures. Surveys taken since July show that the radiation levels have already declined a little.