HC Deb 05 December 1980 vol 995 cc185-6W
Mr. Alton

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the findings of the International Commission on Radiological Protection that 150,000 o people have been killed or will die from radiation caused by nuclear tests.

The Prime Minister

The recent United Nations Secretary-General's report on nuclear weapons noted that

£(millions*)
1975–6 1976–7 1977–8 1978–9 1971–80
1. Gas standards 0.1 0.1 0.16 0.2 0.27
2. Offshore oil and gas technology 6.4 9.6 13.9 12.2 16.8
3. New sources, conservation, R&D strategy
(a) Energy, technology support Unit 0.4 0.7 1.1 1.5 1.9.
(b) Other non-nuclear contracts 0.1 0.3 1.2 2.5 7.0
4. International non-nuclear projects (mainly through International Energy Agency agreements) 0.1 0.5 2.1 1.1 2.5
5. Nuclear R & D other than UKAEA
(a) Gas centrifuge 15.2 17.0 8.8 Nil Nil
(b) Euratom programme 0.3 0.1 Nil Nil Nil
6. (a) UKAEA direct R & D 96.3 107.5 116.3 131.9 139.6
(b) UKAEA contracts with industry 7.6 10.5 12.2 18.5 24.9
*Figures given in September prices for the relevant year.

estimates of the effects on health of radiation from nuclear weapons tests were based on data which are the subject of scientific controversy, and that there was no way of identifying radiation-induced cases among the many millions of other cancer deaths during the same period of time.

To reduce any possible risks to health the United Kingdom, USA, and USSR jointly agreed in 1963 to stop further nuclear testing in the atmosphere under the terms, of the partial test ban treaty.