§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the level of radioactivity in(a) fish in lochs, (b) hares and rabbits and (c) other animals in south-west Scotland; and what assessment has been made on the cumulative effect of all paths in the food chain on the level of radioactivity in humans.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth(holding answer 23 November 1987): Information on the level of radioactivity in fish and animals resulting from the Chernobyl accident in Scotland is published on a regular basis by my Department. For the south-west of Scotland the measured levels in 1987 for fish range from six becquerels per kilogram to 4,232 becquerels 134W per kilogram, for hare from 165 becquerels per kilogram to 4,530 becquerels per kilogram and for rabbits 20 becquerrels per kilogram to 155 becquerels per kilogram. Levels in deer range from six becquerels per kilogram to 1,686 becquerels per kilogram.
As assessment of doses to the population of Scotland through all exposure pathways is included in a report; produced by the National Radiological Protection Board entitled "A Preliminary Assessment of the Radiological Impact of the Chernobyl Reactor Accident on the Population of the European Community" and in a report produced by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development entitled "The Radiological Impact of the Chernobyl Accident in OECD Countries".