§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Defence if HMS Starling, HMS Eagle and HMS Birmingham were involved in radiation tests during 1953.
§ Mr. ButlerNo.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Defence what tests on the affects of radiation have been carried out in the last three years.
§ Mr. ButlerA number of such tests have been carried out but none involving HM ships.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of decontamination procedures carried out in ships involved in nuclear tests between 1950 and 1956; and where this decontamination took place.
§ Mr. ButlerThere were two series of tests conducted by the United Kingdom in the period 1950 to 1956 that involved the use of ships. The first, Operation Hurricane, was carried out in October 1952 in the Monte Bello Islands off the west coast of Australia and consisted of one test. The ships concerned, HMS Campania, Narvik, Tracker and Zeebrugge, were outside the direct effects of the explosion and as a result were subjected to contamination only through their contact with sea water which had itself been contaminated by the radioactive products of the explosion. Decontamination procedures consisted of washing, scrubbing and hosing down those parts of the ships that were directly exposed to contact with sea water, ie ships' boats and underwater inlets. Appropriate precautions were taken during these procedures, including the monitoring of those personnel employed in these tasks.
On their return to the United Kingdom several months after the test, further action was taken in various royal dockyards to remove any remaining residual contamination. Because several months' delay had occurred between the time of the test and the return to the United Kingdom, the residual contamination was light. Whilst the work was carried out the necessary health physics precautions were, of course, taken.
The second series of tests, Operation Mosaic, was carried out in May and June 1956 also in the Monte Bello Islands. Three ships were involved, HMS Alert, Diana and Narvik. The only vessel exposed to radioactive fallout was
741WHMS Diana. As part of the tests, this ship was required to steam through clouds of fallout generated by the explosions, in order to test the ventilation and wash down arrangements. These proved satisfactory. Levels of contamination on the ship were checked subsequently to the vessel's actual participation in the tests. It was found that, due to the efficiency of the wash down arrangements, residual contamination was minimal.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Navy ships involved in radiation tests between 1950 and 1956.
§ Mr. ButlerI shall answer shortly.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Australian Royal Commission has asked his Department to supply any information concerning HMS Starling, HMS Eagle and HMS Birmingham and their involvement in radiation tests.
§ Mr. ButlerNo.