§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was Her Majesty's Government's position on the discussion of international transport and trade in radioactive waste at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government support the aims of the Agenda 21 chapter concerned with radioactive wastes, including the international movement of such wastes. A key priority of the chapter is to strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency's code of practice on the international transboundary movement of radioactive waste.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the types and amount of radioactive products disposed of on site by Barnsley district general hospital since 17 July 1986;
(2) if he will give the amounts of radioactive waste burned at Barnsley district general hospital for each year since the issue of authorisation in 1986.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 22 June 1992]: The total radioactivity contained in the wastes incinerated by the hospital since 1986 is as follows:
Megabecquerels 1986 41 1987 50 1988 41 1989 30 1990 9 1991 11 During 1991 the daily average disposal rate was 28 Kilobecquerels. This is less than the activity of a household smoke detector.
1 Megabecquerels = 1000 Kilobecquerels.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reviews have taken place since 1986 of the authorisation given to Barnsley and district general hospital to burn radioactive waste.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 22 June 1992]: All authorisations issued under the Radioactive Substances 291W Act 1960 are kept under review, and revised when appropriate. In this case, the use of radioactive materials and the disposal of radioactive wastes by the hospital have remained broadly constant over the period. No changes to the terms of the authorisation have therefore been needed.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are taken to monitor the levels of radioactivity of(a) the staff, (b) the patients and (c) persons residing in close proximity of Barnsley district general hospital following the authorisation given to that hospital to burn radioactive waste.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 22 June 1992]: So far as the staff and patients are concerned, the hospital undertakes its own radiological monitoring as part of its procedures to ensure the safe keeping and use of radioactive materials and wastes.
In relation to the monitoring of radioactivity in the vicinity of the hospital, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to him today.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what records are held of the levels of radioactivity in and around Barnsley prior to 1986 and since that date;
(2) what monitoring of the environment has taken place in and around Barnsley to determine levels of radioactivity since 1986.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 22 June 1992]: The wastes discharged to the atmosphere from Barnsley district general hospital have an extremely small radioactive content and pose no radiological hazard. Environmental monitoring in the vicinity of the hospital is therefore not necessary.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the terms and conditions of the certificate issued to Barnsley district general hospital authorising the burning of radioactive waste.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 22 June 1992]: The certificate of authorisation issued by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 permits the hospital to incinerate each day material containing up to 2 megabecquerels of radioactive waste. A copy of the certificate will be placed in the House Library.