HC Deb 08 February 1989 vol 146 c690W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of the clean-up of Potton island in Essex following the nuclear materials testing programme in the 1950s; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury

No firings have been carried out on Potton island at any time which involved radioactive materials. There is an ongoing decontamination exercise on Potton island to ensure that the area is clear of conventional munitions and explosives, and, although the final sum will not be known until the end of the exercise, the cost of the initial decontamination was some £40,000.