§ Mr. ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information was provided by the manufacturers as to the maximum level of radiation workers could safely be exposed to when the Royal Navy took delivery of the nuclear reactor for HMS Dreadnought; and if such information is retained by the Royal Navy. [4788]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Royal Navy took delivery of HMS Dreadnought containing the first UK Submarine nuclear reactor in 1963. While manufacturers are not responsible for advising my Department on the levels to which its radiation workers might be exposed, radiation surveys by Vickers (VSEL), the ship builder, established that the radiation levels on HMS Dreadnought were within the limits specified, based upon the recommendations of the International Commission for Radiological Protection in being at the time. This information is held by VSEL but was and is available to the Royal Navy.