§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the time period it will take before the radioactive products from the Chernobyl accident will be reduced to a level to permit the full use of agricultural land in the province.
§ Mr. HanleyThere has been no change in the use of agricultural land as a consequence of the Chernobyl accident.
There is a slow fall in the levels of radioactivity in sheep from the restricted areas. Radiocaesium remains available for uptake by plants in the affected upland area due to the absence in the soil of minerals which would render the radiocaesium unavailable to plants.
It is not possible to predict how long restrictions on movement and slaughter of sheep from these areas will remain in place. Monitoring of sheep continues and restrictions will continue to be lifted when the safety of the food chain can be assured.