§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of curies of Caesium 137 released from Windscale in each year since 1969.
§ Mr. BishopI have been asked to reply.
The figures below show the average curies per month:
1969 … … 1,000 1970 … … 2,600 1971 … … 3,000 1972 … … 2,900 1973 … … 1,700 1974 … … 9,100 1975 … … 11,800 1976 … … 9,700 As these figures show, there has been a substantial increase in Caesium 137 emissions in recent years, although the control measures which are being introduced have already improved the situation and will lead to a substantial improvement over the next few years. Caesium 137 is not separately identified in the current authorisation, but the total level of beta emissions from Windscale falls within the existing authorised limits of discharge.