Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the reasons why 5 gm of radioactive tritium imported from the United States of America to the United Kingdom for the use in lighting has gone missing; if he will instruct Her Majesty's chief inspectors of pollution and nuclear installations to produce a report on the disappearance of the tritium; and if he will seek details from the United States Department of Energy on the background to its report on the incident issued in November 1989.
§ Mr. TrippierUsers of tritium are either registered under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 or, in the case of licensed nuclear installations, licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 and are regulated by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution or Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate as appropriate. In all cases the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985, which control the storage and provide for accountancy for all radioactive substances, apply.
Officials of the United States Department of Energy met recently with the United Kingdom Department of 248W Energy and with United Kingdom customers for United States tritium to discuss improved measurement and auditing procedures.