§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on making available to independent researchers all records held by his Department of environmental monitoring around licensed nuclear installations, for all years that records exist; and if he will describe the arrangements under which such records may be used by independent researchers.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe records which are held by this Department of environmental monitoring carried out near nuclear installations include information obtained by260W nuclear site operators. This information remains the property of the operators and requests to consult it should be addressed to them. Information gathered directly by this Department is obtained as a check on the accuracy and reliability of the operator's measurements. This material can be made available for inspection by independent researchers on written application to Her Majesty's Radiochemical Inspectorate.