§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Energy what environmental damage was caused by the leaks of radioactive waste material from British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. plant in Lancashire in 1980 and 1981.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI have been asked to reply.
On the night of 14–15 May 1980 part of a field adjoining the BNFL works at Springfields, Lancashire, was slightly contaminated with radioactive liquor following a leak from an effluent pipeline. Remedial action, including the removal of the contaminated soil, was taken within a few hours: within a few days replacement soil had been brought in and turf laid. Levels of activity in the contaminated soil were such that members of the public and livestock could not have received any significant radiation does. I have received no evidence that any leak occurred in 1981.