§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in the event of a possible radiation leak similar to that which was feared could have happened at 585W Temple Mills, Leyton, railway yard on 12 April, what are the responsibilities of the fire service; and what it did during the 12 April incident;
(2) in the event of a possible radiation leak similar to that which was feared could have happened at Temple Mills, Leyton, railway yard on 12 April, what are the responsibilities of the police; and what they did during the 12 April incident.
§ Mr. HurdThe first responsibility of the police is to control access to the area around the immediate source of a radiation leak, or possible leak. The primary responsibility of the fire brigade is to deal with any fire and its consequences. Guidance to chief officers of police and chief fire officers on action to take in the case of an incident involving the carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel was issued by the Home Office on 23 February 1983. A copy of this advice is in the Library of the House.
I understand that this guidance was followed at this incident by both the police and the fire service.