§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for compensating the local population in the event of its being contaminated by a leak of radioactive material.
§ Mr. EadieUnder the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, operators of nuclear installations are liable to pay compensation for any injury or damage arising out of, or resulting from, the radioactive and other hazardous properties of any nuclear matter which may be involved in an occurrence on their sites or while in the course of carriage to or from their sites. Operators are required to provide financial security of £5 million against such claims. If the total claims for compensation, duly established, exceed £5 million, the Act provides for public funds to be available to ensure that such claims are satisfied up to a total of £50 million.
The Act provides also that, if the total of such claims exceeds £50 million, they shall be satisfied to such extent, and out of funds provided by such means, as Parliament may determine.