French Nuclear Installations

HC Deb 02 February 1981 vol 998 cc49-50W

Mr. Warren

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental monitoring of French nuclear installations is available to his Department on a regular basis to ensure that nuclear pollution warnings are available to the British public.

Mr. Giles Shaw

As members of the European Community we receive periodic reports on the operational discharges from French nuclear installations. We also have access to the results of monitoring of the coastal waters of the Channel Isles carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at the request of the islands authorities. Her Majesty's Government are now at an advanced stage in negotiating an arrangement with the French Government whereby each would undertake to notify the other immediately in the unlikely event of an incident occurring at a nuclear installation which could result in radiological hazards in the other's territory.