Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the Intertran and Radtran II computer codes developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency to model the radiological impact of the transport of nuclear materials.
§ Mr. David MitchellIntertran was developed from the American computer code Radtran-II by consultants working for the International Atomic Energy Agency. The safety and reliability directorate of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has undertaken work on the code on behalf of UKAEA and the Department of Transport.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many events were recorded in the periods(a) 1964 to 1983 and (b) 1984 to 1987, in the transport of radioactive materials that either exceeded or had the potential to exceed the radiological impact associated with normal transport conditions.
§ Mr. David Mitchell(a) Forty-two events recorded during this period involved radiation levels greater than those associated with normal transport conditions. But only 10 of them caused significant doses to the workers concerned, mostly from badly packaged industrial radiography equipment.
(b) The information for this period is not yet available.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the International Air Transport Authority over the current security measures to protect aircraft carrying radioactive materials from hijack.
§ Mr. David MitchellThere have been no discussions with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). International development of civil aviation security standards is carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The European civil aviation conference considers questions of aviation security in Europe and makes recommendations to its members. It is open to IATA to make representations to those international bodies.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the International Atomic Energy Agency over security measures for the air, sea or land transport of radioactive materials and physical protection measures against terrorist attack or hijack.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe International Atomic Energy Agency already lays down recommendations on the standards for the physical protection of radioactive materials during transportation, and these standards are observed by the industry.