§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will make a further statement about the radioactive water leaking at the British nuclear plant at Windscale.
§ Mr. BennI am advised that excavations are in progress to locate and deal with the source of the leak from the silo at Windscale which I reported to the House on 9th December 1976. The work has been hampered by the need to divert an underground active effluent pipeline to obtain access to the base of the silo wall. Environmental monitoring results on and around the site continue to show that the leakage is causing no hazard to workers or members of the public. I will report again to the House when this work has been completed.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the open verdict recorded on Mr. David Berry at Winchester, on 14th January, he remains satisfied with the safety precautions at Wind scale.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration the Health and Safety Executive has given to the death of a former engineer at the Windscale nuclear fuel plant, Mr. David Berry, aged 22 years, who died two months after finishing work at the plant.
§ Mr. BennI am advised by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive that it has considered the radiation exposure record of the late Mr. David Berry at the Windscale Works of British Nuclear Fuels Limited. He was employed by the company from August 1975 to September 1976 and in that time his exposure to radiation from 459W all sources in the course of his employment was well within the permitted levels imposed for persons ocupationally exposed on the site. These levels, which are based on the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection and endorsed in this country by the Medical Research Council, are laid down in the conditions attached to the nuclear site licence. Licences are granted by the Health and Safety Executive under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 and the conditions are enforced by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate. I am advised that these arrangements are satisfactory.