§ Mr. BennTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority released radioactivity to the environment since 1961 at levels that would have been subject to prosecution under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, prior to Crown immunity being withdrawn.
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§ Mr. TrippierThe United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has never been subject to Crown immunity under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 (RSA 60) for the disposal of radioactive waste. Disposals from UKAEA premises are closely regulated by means of certificates of authorisation issued under RSA 60 by HMIP and where appropriate jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, backed up by inspection of premises.
The only prosecution by HMIP under RSA 60 against UKAEA was on 5 June 1991 when the authority pleaded guilty to two breaches of conditions in its certificate of authorisation. We are not aware of any other releases of radioactivity which would have rendered the authority liable to prosecution.