HC Deb 21 May 1986 vol 98 cc192-3W
21. Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement as to the latest information on damage to the environment arising from the most recent discharges of radioactivity.

Mr. Waldegrave

Preliminary estimates suggest that the levels of radioactivity experienced in the United Kingdom following the Chernobyl accident are transient and have already considerably declined. However statistical models predict that small traces of radionuclides will be detectable for many years.

38. Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the results of radiological monitoring are accessible to and comprehensible by members of the public.

Mrs. Rumbold

I am aware of the difficulty of presenting these technical issues in a simple way. However I believe that statements like that contained within the bulletin prepared by my Department on 9 May 1986 present the results of radiological monitoring in a way that is comprehensible and available to the public through news media.

42. Mr. WillieW. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the latest levels of radiation following the Chernobyl disaster; and what trend is indicated by the relevant data.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to the daily bulletins prepared by my Department which are in the Library of the House. Further statements will be issued if and when necessary.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the calibre of atomic weapons, in TNT equivalent, that would be likely to produce the equivalent amount of radioactive material as that released by the accident at Chernobyl.

Mr. Waldegrave

It is not possible to make this calculation until the Russian authorities supply information on the amount of material released from the core of the Chernobyl reactor.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make it his policy to make public information on all incidents involving the release of radioactive materials from where they are intended to be; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Crouch) on 15 May at column554.