§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of notified accidents at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. NeubertThe numbers of abnormal occurrences notified by Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston to regulatory and environmental authorities, under the criteria in force at the time, for each of the past five years are:
Number 1985 3 1986 26 1987 46 1988 47 1989 46 The apparent increase between 1985 and 1987 was a result of changed reporting arrangements and criteria.
Almost all these occurrences were industrial injuries or other events unconnected with radioactive substances. None involved exposure to radiation above one thousandth of a milliSeivert.