HC Deb 11 January 1988 vol 125 cc1-2W
Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her reply of 21 October 1987 to the hon. Member for Copeland, all documents, reports and surveys connected with the 1957 Windscale fire have now been published under the 30-year rule; if she will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

The Prime Minister

In accordance with normal practice it would not be appropriate for the Public Records Office to copy such a large volume of documents for retention in the House of Commons Library. Government Departments and the Atomic Energy Authority have fulfilled their responsibilities in accordance with the requirements of the Public Records Act, and papers on the Windscale fire have been available for scrutiny in the Public Records Office in Kew since 2 January. All papers due for release in 1988 have been released except for a limited number of papers withheld under the terms of the Act.