§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will estimate the length of time that radioactive caesium will continue to be available for uptake from the soil by vegetation in the restricted areas set up after the Chernobyl accident; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 12 February 1988]: My Department has set in hand a substantial programme of research to enable the best possible estimate to be made. I am not willing to make any predictions before studying the results of this work which should start to become available later this year.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list details of the research projects his Department is funding or has funded into the uptake of radioactive caesium in upland sites; when the results will be completed; and if he will publish interim results.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 12 February 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 8 February 1988 at column 62.