§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what records are being made of any accidents, incidents or untoward occurrences involving a flask containing spent nuclear fuel where the events did not meet the criteria for an incident notifiable to Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what emergency plans have been approved by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate in respect of accidents involving flasks containing spent nuclear fuel; whether separate emergency plans, or sections of plans, have been approved in respect of flasks containing damaged, distorted or failed nuclear fuel elements; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what are the reporting criteria for an incident notifiable to Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate in relation to an accident, incident, or untoward occurrence involving a flask containing spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThe emergency plans approved by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive for all licensed nuclear installations include provision for dealing with any flask incident on site, as do the plans of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
Accidents, incidents and untoward occurrences, including any involving flasks, at a licensed nuclear installation are required to be recorded in a formal register, available at all times for inspection by HMNII. If any such event causes significant radiological exposure, or shows that the safe operation or condition of the plant may be affected, the licence terms require that the Health and Safety Executive be formally notified as soon as practicable. The UKAEA also has arrangements for providing full information on any such event to HMNII.
The Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for regulations governing flasks in transit outside nuclear sites.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the incident at Windscale involving radioactive contamination of a worker on 27 March 1981, and all the documents relating to subsequent inquiries;
570W(2) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the incident at Sellafield involving radioactive contamination on 18 June 1981, and all the documents relating to subsequent inquiries;
(3) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the radiation contamination incident at Sellafield reported to the nuclear installation inspectorate on 13 November 1984.
§ Mr. GoodladI refer the hon. Member to the answer already given to him on 8 December 1986 at columns5–6.