HC Deb 17 January 1979 vol 960 cc763-4W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations have taken place with the French Government about nuclear developments on the Cherbourg Peninsula, which may create hazards for the citizens of the Channel Islands.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

Consultation with the French Government has led to the provision of information about nuclear installations on the Cherbourg Peninsula. This has been passed to the Channel Islands authorities, together with an assessment by United Kingdom Government Departments which concluded that for all practical purposes the risk of accidental emission of radiation is minimal, and has been reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. The French Government have also agreed that the

(a) PAYMENTS MADE TO SPECIALIST ADVISERS
Select Committee 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78
£ £ £ £
Nationalised Industries 2,245 3,878 10,489 11,615
Race Relations and Immigration — — — —
Overseas Development 957 1,100 2,239 2,387
Science and Technology 541 2,124 835 566
Notes:
1. Information based on payments made by the Fees Office to Specialist Advisers during each of the four financial years 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78
2. Amounts include fees and other expenses—for example, travelling costs, and so on.
3. In some cases payments may be in respect of service in the previous financial year.

(b) TRAVEL WITHIN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Select Committee 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78
£ £ £ £
Nationalised Industries 994.00 648.00 2,086.00 1,593.00
Race Relations and Immigration 465.00 132.00 369.00 93.00
Overseas Development — — — —
Science and Technology 922.00 1,032.00 1,083.00 540.00

(c) TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM
Select Committee 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78
£ £ £ £
Nationalised Industries 2,317 13,853 27,714 4,077
Race Relations and Immigration 5,241 8,868 11,065 4,787
Overseas Development — 15,229 5,321 2,706
Science and Technology 3,998 15,885 20,769 —

local Prefet should notify the Channel Islands authorities direct of any nuclear incident in the Cherbourg Peninsula.