§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the isotopic composition of the plutonium solution to be carried in the 250 litre containers by sea from Dounreay to Windscale, in percentage terms of Pu 239, Pu 240, Pu 241 and Pu 242; and how many curies of radioactivity each containerful of plutonium will hold.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI am advised by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that the isotopic composition and specific radioactivity of plutonium is determined by its total radiation history. The radiation history of each consignment of plutonium fuel loaded into, and extracted from, PFR is different. Information on specific shipments is classified for the reasons explained to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 15 April.—[Vol. 3, c.144.]
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he can give an estimate of the radiolytic hydrogen production which will occur within the containers being used to carry plutonium solution from Dounreay to Windscale.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI am advised by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that further work on the rate of radiolytic hydrogen production has been carried out since the publication of the Health and Safety Executive's report in March 1980. The measured rate of gas evolution from the actual solutions to be transported has been substantially below the rate which was assumed in the calculations made as part of the safety case approved by the Department of Transport.