HC Deb 21 July 1997 vol 298 cc419-21W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 July,Official Report, column 16, how many movements of radioactive material (a) have occurred through the channel tunnel since its opening and (b) have passed through each south coast port in each year since 1990. [9209]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The Department does not hold information of the kind requested.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 July,Official Report, column 15, on the transportation of radioactive materials, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the flights on which the radioactive material carried was (a) high level and (b) intermediate level. [9210]

Ms Jackson

It is estimated that less than 5 per cent. of such flights carry packages of radioactive material containing in excess of the quantities previously referred to. For transport purposes, the terms high level and intermediate level radioactive material are undefined.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions how many crashes have occurred involving road vehicles carrying radioactive material in the United Kingdom in each year since 1985. [9205]

Ms Jackson

The number of such crashes notified to the Department are:

Number
1985 4
1986 1
1987 2
1988 5
1989 2
1990 0
1991 2
1992 1
1993 1
1994 1
1995 3
1996 1
19971 0
Total 23
1 To date

In none of these crashes was there any loss of radioactive material from any package.

Mr. Dawson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many flights carrying mixed oxide fuel will pass from Carlisle airport over the Lancaster and Wyre constituency(a) from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 1997, (b) in 1998 and (c) in 1999. [9654]

Ms Jackson

British Nuclear Fuels informs me that none will.

Mr. Dawson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on safety in respect of the proposed increase in the number of mixed oxide fuel flights from Carlisle airport in 1998. [9656]

Ms Jackson

I am informed by British Nuclear Fuels that no increases are planned.

Mr. Dawson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many flights carrying mixed oxide fuel from Carlisle airport passed over the Lancaster and Wyre constituency(a) in 1996 and (b) from 1 January to 30 June 1997. [9655]

Ms Jackson

British Nuclear Fuels informs me that there was none.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since 1985 the incidents where(a) chemicals and (b) radioactive material have been lost overboard (i) in UK waters and (ii) elsewhere from UK-registered ships, giving for each instance the location, the chemicals or materials involved and the amounts subsequently recovered. [9207]

Ms Jackson

The information is not available in the form requested. However, the table gives a summary of major incidents since 1985 involving the loss of packages

Name of ship Date Nature or incident Area affected
Filia Sea March 1987 Packages lost from general cargo ship and washed ashore East Anglia
Ardlough September 1988 Containers lost from sunken general cargo ship and washed ashore Cumbria and Lancashire
Wessertal October 1990 Tank containers lost from deck of ro-ro ferry Southern North sea
Perintis March 1989 Package containing pesticide lost from sunken general cargo ship English channel
Fathulkhair February 1990 Canister of potassium cyanide lost from deck of freighter and washed ashore Kent and Sussex
Nordic Pride May 1991 Deck cargo lost from ro-ro ferry and washed ashore, resulting in the evacuation of the local population Norfolk
Tokio Express February 1997 Containers lost from container ship and washed ashore. Cornwall