HC Deb 17 February 1987 vol 110 cc547-8W
Dr. David Clark

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement on 27 January, Official Report, column 189, concerning radon levels in houses, what estimated relevant expenditure will be incurred by his Department during the current year and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

As I indicated on 27 January, there will be a Government-funded survey to identify the houses in Devon and Cornwall with the highest radon levels and a measurement service provided by the National Radiological Protection Board to enable people living in any area where radon concentrations might be above or near the action level to find out the radon concentration in their houses at no cost to themselves. A price for this work has not yet been agreed with NRPB; I will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

Mr. Ashdown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 9 February, Official Report, column 115, concerning advice given by officials of his Department in 1971, what was the maximum annual exposure to radiation calculated for residents of that property; whether any factors contributing to that calculated maximum exposure have been subject to revision since 1971; whether exposure from radon gas was part of the 1971 calculations; if he has any plans to undertake further investigations of radioactivity in or near that property; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

The maximum annual exposure to radiation calculated in 1971 for residents of the property referred to in my reply to the hon. Member on 9 February was 1,200 millirems (12 milliSieverts). However, as this measurement was designed to assess the potential health implications arising from the location of the property at an old uranium mine, only the gamma dose rate was calculated. Subsequent attempts to measure the alpha dose rate arising from radon and its decay products at this property have been made by the National Radiological Protection Board as part of its preliminary radon surveys, but the occupants have not been prepared to take part in the surveys. I understand that they will receive a further invitation to participate in the systematic survey which I announced on 27 January.