§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how often his Department makes checks on the discharges of radioactive effluent into the sea from nuclear power installations; and to what extent he is satisfied with the safety of dumping bulk quantities of radioactive materials into the sea.
§ Mr. John HareUnder the terms of authorisations issued by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs and me such effluents are monitored to ensure that their radioactive content does not exceed that authorised. My inspectors regularly examine the results of this monitoring and carry out independent checks including a programme of environmental monitoring, in some cases weekly and in others monthly, in the vicinity of effluent pipelines.
141WBefore authorising the dumping of radioactive wastes at sea my right hon. Friend and I must be satisfied as to the safety of the operations.