HC Deb 22 April 1987 vol 114 cc546-9W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of North Wales as to, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Wylfa (a) what evacuation time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the most populated 22½ deg. sector from the power station out to (i) five miles and (ii) 10 miles; (b)what time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the population within (i) five miles, and (ii) 10 miles of the power station; and if he will arrange for the basis and calculations of such estimates to be placed in the Library;

(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of North Wales as to, in the event of a nuclear accident at Trawsfynydd (a) what time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of high risk groups from the towns of Bangor, Conwy, Llandudno, Caernarfon, Festiniog, and Holyhead, (b) what time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of low-mobility groups from the above mentioned towns. (c) what time estimates have been prepared for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the above mentioned towns; and if he will arrange for data and calculations on which such estimates have been made to be placed in the Library;

(3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of North Wales as to, in the event of a nuclear accident at Trawsfynydd (a) what evacuation time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the most populated 22½ deg. sector from the power station out to (i) five miles, (ii) 10 miles, of the power station; (b) what time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the population within (i) five miles and (ii) 10 miles, of the power station; and if he will arrange for the basis and calculations of such estimates to be placed in the Library;

Mr. Frank Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cleveland about the time estimates for the evacuation of low-mobility groups from Stockton, Redcar and Hartlepool, in his contingency plans for a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool;

(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cleveland about the time estimates for the evacuation of high-risk groups from Stockton, Redcar and Hartlepool, in his contingency plans for a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool;

(3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cleveland about the time estimates for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the population of Stockton, Redcar and Hartlepool, in his contingency plans for a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool;

(4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Tyne and Wear as to whether, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool, any time estimates have been made for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the populations of Sunderland, Newcastle and Tynemouth;

(5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Tyne and Wear as to whether, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool, any time estimates have been made for the evacuation of low-mobility groups from Sunderland, Newcastle and Tynemouth;

(6) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Tyne and Wear as to whether, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool, any time estimates have been made for the evacuation of high-risk groups from Sunderland, Newcastle and Tynemouth;

(7) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Durham as to whether, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool, any time estimates have been made for the evacuation of high-risk groups from Darlington and Durham;

(8) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Durham as to whether, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool, any time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of low-mobility groups from Darlington and Durham;

(9) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Durham as to whether, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Hartlepool, any time estimates have been prepared for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the populations of Darlington and Durham.

Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwent as to, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Berkeley, Oldbury or Hinkley Point, what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of the population of Newport; and if he will call for the basis and calculation of such time estimates to be placed in the Library;

(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwent as to, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Berkeley, Oldbury or Hinkley Point (i) what time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of high-risk groups from Newport, (ii) what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of low-mobility groups from Newport and (iii) what time estimates have been made for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the population of Newport; and if he will call for the basis and calculation of such time estimates to be placed in the Library.

Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Lancashire concerning emergency preparedness for a civil nuclear disaster at Heysham with particular reference to (i) time estimates for the evacuation of the most populated 22½deg sector from the power station out to (a) five miles and (b) 10 miles, (ii) time estimates for the evacuation of the population within (a) five miles and (b) 10 miles of the power station, (iii) time estimates for the evacuation of the population of (a) Lancaster, (b) Blackpool, (c) South Ribble, (d) Burnley, (e) Chorley and (f) Southport, (iv) time estimates for the evacuation of high-risk groups at those centres of population, (v) time estimates for the evacuation of low-mobility groups at those centres of population and (vi) time estimates for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the populations of those centres of population; and if he will arrange for the basis, and calculations underlying these estimates to be placed in the Library;

(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Greater Manchester concerning the emergency preparedness for a civil nuclear disaster at Heysham, with particular reference to (a) time estimates for the evacuation of high-risk groups from Manchester, (b) time estimates for the evacuation of low-mobility groups from Manchester and (c) time estimates for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the population of Manchester; and if he will arrange for the data and calculations on which any such estimates are based to be placed in the Library;

(3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Merseyside concerning the emergency preparedness for a civil nuclear disaster at Heysham, with particular reference to time estimates for the evacuation of the population of (a) St. Helens and (b) Liverpool; and if he will place in the Library the basis and calculation underlying those time estimates;

(4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cumbria concerning the emergency preparedness for a nuclear accident at Calder Hall with particular reference to (i) time estimates for the evacuation of the most populated 22½ deg sector from the power station out to (a) five miles and (b) 10 miles, (ii) time estimates for the evacuation of the population within (a) five miles and (b) 10 miles of the power station, (iii) time estimates for the evacuation of the population of (a) Whitehaven, (b) Workington and (c) Barrow in Furness, (iv) time estimates for the evacuation of high-risk groups from those centres of population, (v) time estimates for the evacuation of low-mobility groups from those centres of population and (vi) time estimates for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets from those centres of population; and if he will arrange for the basis, and calculation underlying those time estimates to be placed in the Library;

(5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Greater Manchester concerning the emergency preparedness for a civil nuclear disaster at Heysham with particular reference to time estimates for the evacuation of the population of (a) Wigan, (b) Bolton, (c) Bury, (d) Rochdale, (e) Leigh and (f) Manchester; and if he will place in the Library the basis and calculations underlying those time estimates.

Mr. Goodlad

The precautions taken in the design and construction of nuclear installations in this country, and the very high safety standards applied in operating and maintaining them, make it highly unlikely that accidents will occur which might significantly affect the public. But however remote the risks, all operators of nuclear installations are required by HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive, as a condition of its site licences, to prepare emergency plans, including those for dealing with an accidental release of radioactivity. The same requirement also applies to the sites of the Atomic Energy Authority.

These plans, on which police and other involved bodies must be consulted, are tested regularly in exercises monitored by HMNII. They cover both emergency procedures at the site and offsite arrangements to protect the public, including monitoring up to 40 km. and evacuation up to 1 km. for later magnox and AGR stations and 1.5 miles for earlier magnox stations. These plans are capable of extension in the improbable event of this proving necessary, but the HSE does not consider that detailed plans covering a wider area are justified. It believes that a balance needs to be struck between detailed plans that are sufficiently extensive to cope with a serious accident and the unjustified use of resources involved in planning for improbable accidents. This approach was specifically endorsed by Sir Frank Layfield in his report on Sizewell. It follows that the specific calculations and assessments sought have not been made.

In an announcement on 18 December following the first stage of a thorough review of existing plans and procedures in the light of experience of the Chernobyl accident, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister concluded that existing plans continue to provide a valid basis for the response to any accident in the United Kingdom. In announcing his consent to the planning application for Sizewell B, the Secretary of State accepted the Layfield report's recommendations relating to emergency planning. These will be taken fully into account in the continuing work on the Government review.

The duties and responsibilities of police forces are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.