§ Dr. John Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has completed his review of reporting procedures for nuclear incidents.
§ Mr. John MooreYes. Following the incident. at Sellafield last October, involving a release of radioactive iodine, I asked Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to examine the existing reporting procedures for nuclear incidents and to make recommendations on how these might be improved.
This it has now done and the revised procedure amends the criteria for reporting so as to ensure more prompt reporting of nuclear incidents and in particular those which could give any cause for concern to the public living in the vicinity. The revised procedure should also eliminate the reporting to Ministers of minor incidents on the sites which have no significant safety implications either for the public or for personnel on the site.
This procedure should ensure greater consistency, and promptness in the reporting of significant incidents than under existing arrangements. Reports will normally be made to Ministers within 24 hours. A note on the revised criteria for reporting has been placed in the Library of the House.
I should emphasise that the proposed changes relate only to what is reported by the operator through Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to Ministers. I am satisfied that the removal of the requirement to report incidents on the sites which have no significant safety implications will not have any effect on the high standards of safety enforced in the industry. Minor incidents will continue to be reportable to Her Majestry's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate under statutory regulations and licence conditions.
Arrangements have also been agreed between Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the operators of each site to inform their local liaison committees and the local population promptly about all incidents reported to Ministers as well as their own work-force. I have been particularly concerned to ensure that local people are kept properly informed about incidents which might have or might be thought to have any consequences outside the site.