§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of the planned increase in transport of these materials over the next decade, his Department has undertaken any study of the emergency arrangements for(a) ports, (b) cargo airports, (c) railways and (d) roads currently designated for the receipt, export and transport of nuclear materials.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe transport of radioactive materials must comply with regulations based on 509W international standards which do not depend for their effectiveness on the designation of particular routes or modes of transport.
The increase in traffic over the next decade is not expected to raise new issues of principle.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements presently exist at ports registered to receive the import of spent nuclear fuel, or other nuclear materials, physically to check that the contents of the imported containers tally with the accompanying inventory and materials carriage documentation.
§ Mr. David MitchellPorts do not have to be registered to handle radioactive materials. For safety reasons it is not possible to open containers of radioactive materials in a port area. The containers are subject to checking on loading and again on arrival at their destination.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for copies of the PATRAM 86 conference report on the packaging and transport of radioactive materials, published by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1987, to be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyYes.