§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest available figures for the rate of atmospheric emission of radioactive material by each of the coal-fired, oil-fired and nuclear-powered electricity generating stations in the United Kingdom.
356Wcosts and pension contributions towards which he made grants under the Coal Industry Acts.
§ Mr. EadieI am informed by the National Coal Board that Government contributions to pensions and social costs in 1977–78 were allocated to its areas as follows:—
§ Mr. EadieFor nuclear power stations operated by the CEGB the latest figures are as follows:
Discharges from the later magnox stations (Oldbury and Wylfa) and the AGR stations where concrete pressure vessels are used are very much lower and not included in the above table.
GASEOUS RADIOACTIVE DISCHARGES (ARGON-41) Station and Discharge (Curies) 7in 1977 Berkeley 15000 Bradwell 18000 Hinkley Point"A " 80000 Trawsfynydd 150000 Dungeness 30000 Sizewell 60000 [Source: Annual Survey of Radioactive Discharges in Great Britain]
PARTICULATE RADIOACTIVE DISCHARGES Station and Discharge (Millicuries) in 1977 Berkeley 3 Bradwell 3 Hinkley Point"A " 10 Hinkley Point"B " 18 Trawsfynydd 18 Dungeness 11 Sizewell 15 Oldbury 3 Wylfa 10 I am advised by the CEBG that, for coal and oil-fired plant, there are no comparable figures for individual stations. However, on the basis of measurements 357W on ash and coal, the maximum amount of radioactivity emitted to the atmosphere annually from a 2000 MW tcoal-fired station in England and Wales is estimated to be about 2 curies as radon gas and several hundred millicuries as particulate: amounts from oil-fired power stations are less than from coal-fired plan.
Emissions from fossil-fuelled and nuclear stations differ as regards material released, type of radiation, persistence and whether the material is gaseous or particulate. Radiation doses to the population depend upon a combination of these factors. Estimates have been made of doses to the most exposed people living in the vicinity of all types of power stations. In all cases the estimated dose is around 1 per cent. of natural background radiation and is negligible in its effect on health.
Power stations in Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.