HC Deb 13 May 1983 vol 42 cc524-5W
Mr. William Ross

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, further to his answer of 17 May 1982, Official Report, c. 49, he now has any evidence that any living creatures in the areas affected by the discharges of plutonium 241 and the americium 241 resulting from its decay have been affected by these materials; whether any such affected creatures are used for human consumption; and at what level of plutonium 241 and americium 241 he would expect dangers to those living creatures to arise.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The continuing programme of research and monitoring to which I referred in my answer of 17 May 1982 has not identified any evidence of marine creatures being adversely affected by discharges of plutonium 241 or americium 241. To put marine species at risk, the level of activity in the discharges would have to be very considerably higher than at present.