§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has any plans for the initiation of a comprehensive programme for education of the people of Scotland on the effects and dangers of radiation; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will consider the publication of a pamphlet, explaining as simply as possible, the problems associated with radiation in milk, water, foodstuffs and in the environment generally; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramI understand that the National Radiological Protection Board proposes a revision of its explanatory booklet "Living with Radiation" which is aimed at educating the public about the effects and dangers of radiation and is written in as simple terms as is consistent with accuracy. This is due to be published within the next month or two. I have asked the Scottish Development Department to liaise with the board on the preparation of the booklet.
§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing radioactive 209W safety limits for (i) a dose, (ii) activity of background radiation, (iii) activity of a litre of milk and (iv) activity of a litre of drinking water.
§ Mr. AncramThe National Radiological Protection Board has recommended lower and upper emergency reference levels of dose for the protection of the pubic from the consequences of accidents involving radiation. The lower levels are recommended as those above which certain precautions should be considered; upper levels are those at which such measures must be taken. The board has further published lower and upper derived emergency
TABLE 1 Emergency reference levels of dose (millisieverts) Lower Upper Whole body Thyroid, lung or other single organs Skin Whole body Thyroid, lung or other single organs Skin Exacuation 100 300 1,000 500 1,500 5,000 Sheltering 5 50 50 25 250 250 Distribution of stable iodine tablets N/A 50 N/A N/A 250 N/A Restriction on consumption of food and water 5 50 N/A 50 500 N/A N/A—Not applicable.
TABLE 2 Derived emergency reference level (becquerels per litre) Milk* Drinking water† Radionuclide Lower Upper Lower Upper Iodine 131 2x 10 3 2x 10 4 2.4 x 10 3 2.4 x 10 4 Caesium 134 3.1 x 10 3 3.1 x 10 4 6.2 x 10 3 6.2 x 10 4 Caesium 137 3.6 x 10 3 3.6 x 10 4 7.3 x 10 3 7.3 x 10 4 * Refers to the peak concentration. † Refers to the initial concentration and assumes the provision of an uncontaminated supply after 14 days.
TABLE 3 Derived emergency reference level for evacuation (becquerels per square metre) Radionuclide Lower Upper 4 x 108 2 x 109 Caesium 134 6.5 x 107 3.3 x 108 Caesium 137 1.8 x 108 8.9 x 108
§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been done on the effects of radiation in Scotland on the human foetus.
§ Mr. John MacKayThere is no current research in Scotland specifically on the effects of ionising radiation on the human foetus.