§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Soviet trade union officials on the implications of the Chernobyl accident for the safe operation of nuclear power stations.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerMy right hon. Friend's discussions with the Soviet trade union delegation on 2 December covered a range of nuclear safety issues, including international initiatives since the Chernobyl accident and opportunities for bilateral and multilateral co-operation. The discussions complement existing links with the USSR at Government and industry level.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the financial and economic cost of the Chernobyl accident to(a) the United Kingdom nuclear industry, (b) United Kingdom farmers and (c) the United Kingdom tourist industry.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe United Kingdom industry was widely involved in monitoring the effects of the Chernobyl accident and in assessing its implications. The cost of this involvement is not readily quantifiable. The Government have so far paid out over £5.2 million in compensation to sheep farmers for the effect on their enterprises of the controls arising from the Chernobyl accident. It is not possible to quantify any effect on tourism.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest information on the evaluation made by the Soviet Union of the total economic cost of the Chernobyl accident.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI understand that the 15 January edition ofPravda reported that at a Politburo meeting the previous day the direct cost of the Chernobyl accident was estimated at 4 billion roubles (£4 billion). According to the report, this cost doubles if economic loss is taken into account.