§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied with the monitoring of radiation undertaken on behalf of his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThere is a well-established programme of monitoring of radiation carried out on behalf of the Welsh Office. Nuclear site operators carry out both discharge and environmental monitoring as part of their authorisation. Her Majesty's radiochemical inspectorate carries out check monitoring of the discharges from these sites and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food undertakes a comprehensive programme of monitoring for radioactivity in the marine and terrestrial environments around nuclear installations. There are also sites in Wales monitored by AERE Harwell and the
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§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average rent increase by each Welsh housing authority in each year since 1070–80.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonBased on returns made by local authorities to the Welsh Office, the information is estimated to be as follows:—
National Radiological Protection Board under their environmental programmes. All of these programmes are constantly being kept under review.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what agencies have conducted radioactive monitoring on behalf of his Department in each year since it assumed responsibility for this function.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonHer Majesty's radiochemical inspectorate, the DOE, fisheries radiological inspectorate and the food sciences division, both of MAFF, AERE Harwell, the National Radiological Protection Board, the two CEGB nuclear power stations at Trawsfynydd and Wylfa, and Amersham International, Cardiff, have carried out radioactive monitoring on behalf of the Welsh Office.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details of all measurements of 261W radiation taken on behalf of his Department since 2 May giving details of the materials sampled, the location and timing of each sample, and the results of each monitoring.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonAll the data that were collected following the Chernobyl accident and up to 16 May have already been made available to the public. Arrangements are being made for a compilation to be published by HMSO and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the incidence of radiation found in Welsh lamb since the Chernobyl incident; and how frequent and extensive have been monitoring schedules.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe purpose of the intensive testing programme now being undertaken in north Wales is to test the radioactivity levels of lamb still on farms and not yet in the food chain. Altogether, 119 tests were carried out on or before 21 June. A list of the latest results is available in the Library of the House of Commons. Further lists will be published covering the current testing programme.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to introduce more regular and more rigorous monitoring of radiation levels in Welsh livestock; if he will give further details of compensatory provision for specific Welsh farmers for problems caused by unacceptable radiation levels in Welsh sheep; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsMore intensive monitoring of radiation levels in Welsh lamb had already been instituted within the area designated in the Statutory Instrument 1986 No. 1027 laid before Parliament on 20 June. This will continue until I am satisfied that it is safe to stop. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I announced on 20 June that if it should prove to be necessary the Government will be prepared to discuss cases of compensation for severe loss in particular circumstances to specific farmers.