§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the critical groups of members of the public in the vicinity of Chapelcross for (a) direct emissions of radioactivity, (b) gaseous discharges of radioactive waste and (c) liquid discharges of radioactive waste; what are the pathways of exposure in each case; whether an individual may be a member of more than one critical group; what scientific method is adopted for individuals being members of more than one critical group; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramThe Scottish Development Department statistical bulletin No. 4/1984 tabulates the actual exposure pathways to the associated critical groups in respect of radioactive waste disposal for Chapelcross and describes the procedure followed when the same people are known to be members of more than one critical group.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what fraction or percentage of what recognised dose limit for members of the public was used as a target level for maximum exposure of members of the public in issuing new certificates of authorisation for radioactive discharges from British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Chaplecross in April; whether this target level was applied to calculations of exposure arising only from operations at Chaplecross; whether this target level was applied to calculations of exposure arising from all sources of radiation other than naural and medical; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramThe certificates of authorisation issued in respect of Chapelcross works are consistent with the Government's objectives for radioactive waste management as set out in the White Paper (Cmnd. 9852), "Radioactive Waste: The Government's response to the Environment Committee's Report", and take into account exposure from all sources, excluding natural and medical.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on 9 December, Official Report, column 134, concerning radiation exposure of the public arising from operations at Chapelcross, what proportion of radiation doses received by members of critical groups in the vicinity of Chapelcross arises from other discharges; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramThe levels of artificial radioactivity detectable in the inner Solway, which are low, result in part from the distant effects of Sellafield. Estimates of the contribution of this component to the doses to the critical group identified in respect of Chapelcross discharges are given in the aquatic environment monitoring reports of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which are available in the Library.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on 9 December, Official Report, column 134, if he will publish a table similar to the table on page 2 of the Scottish Development Department's "Statistical Bulletin No. 4, 1984" showing a summary of pathways of public radiation exposure in the vicinity of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Chapelcross in each year from 1981 to 1985 and showing the effective dose equivalent for each year in millisieverts.
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§ Mr. AncramA statistical bulletin containing information in similar form to that of bulletin No. 4/1984 will be published shortly.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on 9 December, Official Report, column 134, on the most recent assessment of annual dose levels, when the habits survey used in calculating such exposures was last revised; when the physiological uptake factors used in calculating such exposures were last revised; whether calculations of maximum exposures of members of the public in the vicinity of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Chapelcross in each year 1981 to 1995 inclusive have been revised to take account of the latest habit survey and uptake factors now available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramThe last formal habits survey was undertaken in 1982, but all factors relevant to the estimation of public radiation exposure from controlled disposal of radioactive waste are kept under review and assessments are revised in the light of the latest information available.