Dr. ThomasTo ask the Prime Minister if any progress has been made in plans to produce a comprehensive co-ordinated arrangement to deal with emergencies arising from nuclear accidents in the United Kingdom, or in nearby countries.
§ The Prime MinisterFollowing the Chernobyl accident, extensive consultations were held with emergency services and those authorities who would be involved in dealing with a nuclear accident in the United Kingdom. These consultations have confirmed the availability of contingency plans which would permit an effective response to be made to any nuclear accident, including those with more widespread effects than the specific site and off-site plans are designed to cater for. These plans are kept under continuous review and are regularly exercised.
The procedures for responding to an accident in nearby countries are set out in the Department of the Environment booklet "The National Response Plan and Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET): A Statement of proposals" published by HMSO, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Forty six monitoring stations throughout the United Kingdom became operational in June. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment expects to accept the associated computer and telecommunications systems for phase 1 of RIMNET from the contractor shortly.