Mr. John Mark Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he was advised in advance of the discharge of radioactive material from Sellafield into the Irish sea on Friday 24 January; if he authorised this discharge; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy Department was informed in advance of the discharge of radioactive material from Sellafield into the Irish sea on Thursday 23 January. The amount discharged was well within the limits specified in the authorisation for disposal of radioactive waste issued jointly by my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. My officials have nevertheless asked British Nuclear Fuels Limited for an explanation of why they chose to discharge this material in preference to any other options that may have been open to them.