§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the radiation hazard in the town centre of Newport, Monmouthshire.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI understand that a radioactive source containing cobalt 60 became jammed in a testing instrument being used to check the construction of a bridge on a site in the centre of Newport in the early hours of Wednesday 5th December. The police immediately cordoned off the area and obtained expert advice. The source was removed and the area made safe by 2 p.m. that day. I am assured that the distance from the source at which the cordon was set up was considerably greater than the safety minimum. Doses of radiation received by specialists during the subsequent operation were checked and the initial indications are that they were well within the permissible limits.