§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales at what centres, at what frequency and with what size of sample are radioactivity levels in sheep and lambs in Wales measured; and what is the estimated statistical accuracy of such tests.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonTesting is being carried out at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food laboratories at Weybridge and Lowestoft and at other establishments in the public and private sectors. More than 500 sheep each week are currently being tested as part of the intensive monitoring programme. The statistical limits set will ensure that the prospect of sheepmeat with radiocaesium in excess of 1,000 becquerels/kilogramme level getting into the food chain is minimal.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he advised the public protection officers or trading standards officers of local authorities in Wales to be vigilant for any incidence of radioactive carcases of lamb on sale in butchers shops in their area.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe restrictions on the slaughtering and movement of sheep are specifically designed to prevent lambs with high radiocaesium levels reaching butchers' shops. There is no reason for the public to be afraid of buying and eating lamb in the shops. The attention of county emergency planning officers was drawn to the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) Order 1986 on 20 June. Subsequently further approaches have been made with a view to enlisting the aid of local authority officers in order to help Agriculture Department officials to check the movement of animals at livestock markets, showgrounds and slaughterhouses.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what measurements of bodily levels of radioactivity by body monitors, cytogenetic techniques and measurements of bodily excretions have been made by his Department.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonNo such monitoring is conducted by my Department although such measurements can be undertaken as part of the clinical care of patients utilising health service facilities.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what monitoring of the levels of radioactivity of estuarial silts have been made by his Department.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonNo such monitoring is conducted by the Department.