HC Deb 15 December 1976 vol 922 cc719-20W
Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered the inclusion of Coventry as a housing stress area.

Authorised level of discharge Average quarterly discharge or annual discharge as percentage of authorisation
Nature of radioactivity Curies per quarter Curies per annum 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975
Quarterly Alpha … 2,000 — 33 47 59 59 33
Annual Alpha … — 6,000 45 64 82 76 58
Quarterly Beta … 75,000 — 54 47 43 65 83

Within the above there are subsidiary limits on particular isotopes. I am arranging for copies of the reports published by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., which set out the limits and the discharges in detail, to be sent to the hon. Member. Monitoring by my Department and by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food confirms that in no cases have discharges approached the limit.

Mr. Armstrong

Representations have been received from a number of authorities throughout the country, including Coventry. My right hon. Friend is considering and evaluating these claims and expects to reach decisions shortly.

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Property Services Agency has had any firm offers for the former ordnance factory in Coventry.

Mr. Marks

I presume that the property referred to is the former Royal Naval Supply Depot at Red Lane, Coventry. The Property Services Agency (PSA) has received one firm offer to purchase this property; the offer was received on 10th December and bears little relation to the value of the property.

The PSA proposes to arrange a sale by public auction when a Post Office interest in part of the property has been determined.