§ Mr. Richard Pageasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the 1976 levels of radiation of low-grade waste discharged (a) into the Irish Sea and (b) into the atmosphere from the Windscale plant, expressed as percentages of authorised limits and as curies for the total alpha and beta activity; and if he will itemise the activity levels of Strontium 90, Iodine 131 and Caesium 137 into the atmosphere.
§ Mr. ShoreThe information is as follows:
1976 WINDSCALE LIQUID WASTE INTO THE IRISH SEA Curies Percentage of authorized limits Total Beta 183,482 61 Total Alpha 1,614 27 Caesium 137 (included in Total Beta) 115,926 — Cerium 144 (included in Total Beta) 3,996 — Ruthenium 106 20,698 35 Strontium 90 10,344 35 There is no separate limit (within the total) for Caesium 137 or for Cerium 144 in the current authorisation for liquid discharges.
1976 Windscale Airborne Discharges to Atmosphere Curies Total Beta … … 4.6 Total Alpha … … 0.05 Strontium 90 … … 0.36 Iodine 131 … … 0.076 Caesium 137 … … 1.13 Discharges to the atmosphere are authorised subject to the adoption of the best practicable means to control them and do not prescribe numerical limits.
751W
§ Mr. Richard Pageasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, assuming that the proposed expansion at the Wind-scale plant is allowed to proceed and that its operating work load is as anticipated, what are the expected levels of radiation of low-grade waste discharged (a) into the Irish Sea and (b) into the atmosphere expressed as percentages of authorised limits and as curies for the total alpha and beta activity; and if he will itemise the activity levels of Ruthenium 106, Strontium 90, Caesium 137 and Cerium 144 into the Irish Sea and the activity levels of Strontium 90, Iodine 131 and Caesium 137 into the atmosphere.
§ Mr. ShoreI am not yet able to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 17th December 1976.—[Vol 922, c. 873.]
§ Mr. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for the Envorinment whether the Atomic Energy Authority has now identified suitable sites for test drillings in granite and other hard rocks in pursuance of its preliminary research programme into rock formation likely to prove suitable for the disposal of high-level radioactive nuclear waste; where these sites are; which of these sites have been selected for drilling; and when test drillings will begin on each of these selected sites.
§ Mr. ShoreI understand from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that so far only one site has been identified for test drilling. This is in the Mullwharchar Range in the region of Strathclyde. Planning permission will be required, and an application is still
Percentage of households receiving Rent allowances Rent rebates (unfurnished only) Rate rebates Pensioners … … … 55–60 70–80 70 With dependent children … … … 25–30 5–15 15–0