§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the effect on an unprotected and unprepared civilian population of the accidental discharge of 10 gallons of methyl isocyanate.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAccidental discharges of materials will have different effects according to circumstances. I am advised by the Health and Safety Executive, on the basis of theoretical calculations, that a spillage of 10 gallons of liquid methyl isocyanate in typical British day-time weather might form a pool which would evaporate in about a quarter of an hour if no emergency action were taken. The vapour would be blown downwind422W possible to say whether any particular application to retire is premature. Officers qualify for full pension on completion of 30 years' service, but in many cases they can retire with pension before then.
The information sought is therefore not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Nor is a meaningful comparison with the period 1 January to 19 March 1984 yet possible, as only one month's notice of retirement is necessary.
Details of retirement in the precise period 1 January to 19 March 1984 are not available, as statistics are collected on a quarterly basis. In the quarter which ended on 31 March 1984, a total of 77 officers retired from forces in Scotland.