§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the recommendations in the Pochin report on health and safety at AWRE Aldermaston have been implemented; if not how soon he expects this to happen; and what recommendations are still awaiting implementation.
§ Mr. HayhoeWork is under way on a remedial building programme and agreements have been reached with the staff associations and trade unions on training procedures and safety conditions. The specific measures taken include the purchase of a whole body monitor. Some of the recommendations involve extensive changes to facilities and are of a longer-term nature on which action will proceed,72W over several years. For the present, the main constraint on completing the programme is our ability to recruit and train skilled staff for the active areas.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence how soon he expects whole-body monitoring to be introduced at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement about compensation for those working at the establishment who have been exposed to levels of radiation in excess of international standards.
§ Mr. HayhoeA whole body monitor is expected to be in regular use at AWRE early in 1980 and meanwhile staff are being monitored at other establishments. Arrangements for the appropriate protection of earnings for those who have to be taken off radioactive work in compliance with international standards is under negotiation. A number of individual claims alleging some degree of over-exposure have been made and are being considered.