Holy Loch (Hansard, 11 March 1986)

§ Mr. Donald Stewart
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the presence of cobalt 60 in the waters of the Holy Loch.

§ Mr. Lee
There is no measurable level of cobalt 60 in the waters of the Holy Loch.

§ Mr. Donald Stewart
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will institute an independent inquiry into the level of radioactivity in the silts at the head of Holy Loch.

§ Mr. Lee
No.
The levels of radioactivity in the sediment at the Holy Loch are monitored regularly, and the results published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in its aquatic environment monitoring reports, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The Strathclyde regional council also commissioned an independent study of radioactivity in the Firth of Clyde, including the Holy Loch, the results of which were published in 1985. There is no scientific evidence of hazardous radioactivity from submarines operations in the Holy Loch. There is therefore no case for an independent inquiry.

§ Mr. Donald Stewart
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has commissioned any studies into the levels of radiation emitted by the reactors of nuclear submarines based in the Holy Loch on (a) start-up and (b) flushing-out.

§ Mr. Lee
The level of radiation emitted from nuclear submarine reactors is very low. Routine radioactive discharges from nuclear submarines directly into the environment are not permitted. Routine radioactive discharges are permitted from the depot ship; the very low levels of radioactivity are published in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's aquatic environment monitoring reports, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Routine monitoring of the inter-tidal zones shows levels indistinguishable from those in areas remote from nuclear facilities.

§ Mr. Donald Stewart
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the creation of a restricted military zone at the vicinity of the Holy Loch was brought into being at the request of the United States navy.
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§ Mr. Stanley
No restrictions other than those under the dockyard port of the Holy Loch Order 1967 currently apply to the area. Draft byelaws regulating the use of the protected anchorages in the Holy Loch for defence purposes will shortly be advertised locally for public comment. These have been prepared on the initiative of this Department. The United States Navy has been consulted.