§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cause of the fire at the Windscale nuclear fuel plant on Monday 16 July;
(2) what was the extent of the release of radioactivity into the air as a result of the fire at Windscale on 16 July:
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(4) whether the Health and Safety Executive, the Radiological Protection Board, or the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will be involved in the investigation into the fire at the Windscale nuclear fuel plant on 16 July;
(5) what type of investigation will be carried out into the fire at Windscale nuclear fuel plant; and whether the report will be made public;
(6) whether any automatic safety mechanisms were at fault in that section of the plant at the Windscale nuclear fuel processor in which the fire occurred on 16 July.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23 July 1979, Vol. 971, c.], gave the following answer:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) on 19 July 1979.—[Vol. 970, c. 811.]
It is estimated that the total release of radioactivity to atmosphere was less than one curie, predominantly in the form of radioactive caesium. The normal annual discharge of caesium to atmosphere from the Windscale works is about six curies. The release did not spread beyond the site boundary in any significant quantity. The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive is studying the circumstances of the incident as part of its duties in connection with safety matters at the Windscale site. I understand that British Nuclear Fuels Limited, which does not expect to involve the National Radiological Protection Board, has already initiated an inquiry in accordance with its normal procedures, and that relevant conclusions will be made available to the Windscale local liaison committee. It will not be possible to say whether there was any failure of automatic safety mechanisms until the appropriate investigations have been carried out.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated value of the damage caused by the fire in the Windscale nuclear fuel plant on 16 July; and for how long that section of the plant will be out of commission.
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§ Mr. Norman Lamont,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23 July 1979], gave the following answer:
I am advised that the fire caused no damage to the plant which is now available for production. The resumption of operations in that part of the plant will however only take place after consultation with the NII when more is known of the detailed circumstances of the fire.