§ 77. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement regarding the discharge of radioactive waste into the River Thames, both directly and indirectly, stating, in particular, whether the amount has been increasing or decreasing during the last few years; and what evidence he has of accumulation of radioactive substances in marine animals and plants in the Thames estuary.
§ Mr. SandysThe principal discharges of radioactive waste into the Thames come from establishments of the Atomic Energy114W Authority. Safe limits for the radioactivity in these discharges are defined in authorisations which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have issued under the Atomic Energy Authority Act, 1954. The total radioactivity in waste discharged has increased during the last few years but is still a long way below the total permitted. A number of other concerns discharge radioactive wastes which reach the Thames. These discharges have also increased during recent years but the total radioactivity in them is small. I have no evidence of any accumulation of radioactive substances in marine animals and plants in the Thames estuary.