§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of recent British Nuclear Fuels monitoring figures in respect of the level of technetium 99 in crustaceans off the west Cumbrian coast; and what action he plans to take to eradicate the contamination. [4263]
§ Angela EagleAssessments of monitoring data of the levels of technetium 99 in crustaceans off the west Cumbrian coast are, in the first instance, matters for the Environment Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. British Nuclear Fuels plc has applied to the Environment Agency for variations to the certificates of authorisation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for the Sellafield site. These include a proposed reduction in the discharge limit for technetium 99. The Environment Agency is currently considering the applications and will shortly issue for public consultation the changes to the authorisations that it is minded to grant.