§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) who holds stocks of iodine tablets;
(2) how many iodine tablets are in stock per head of population and per head of population under the age of 18 years.
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§ Mr. Whitney[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1986, c. 233]: Stocks of potassium iodate tablets are held at all nuclear installations and at some nearby police stations and hospitals. These are specifically for issue to staff and to people living in the vicinity should an accident occur in which radioactive iodine is released.
Small stocks of potassium iodide tablets are held by the manufacturer and some pharmacists and hospitals for medical purposes unrelated to an accidental release of radioactive materials.
In excess of 2 million potassium iodate tablets are held to issue to people in the vicinity of a serious nuclear accident which releases radioactive iodine while they are being evacuated.