§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the extent of contamination at Maralinga, in square acres, to the present date; what weight of plutonium is buried there, whether he has received representations from the Australian Government to decontaminate Maralinga and to remove the plutonium; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe area at Maralinga where residual levels of surface radioactivity have been measured extends to about 200 square kilometres (50,000 acres). The amount of plutonium in the burial pits does not exceed 20kg and may be much less. The Australian Government have made no request for the United Kingdom to participate in any clean-up operation, but we are providing technical advice and assistance on an agreed basis.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current conditions and contamination level of the Monte Bello Islands, Emu and Maralinga; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyRecent surveys of the Monte Bello Islands show that some small areas of low surface radioactivity remain, and that the minor access restrictions that apply now can probably be removed totally within the next 30 years. I understand that the Australian Government intend to return control of the islands to the Western Australian Government, who have plans to designate the area a nature reserve and marine park. The current condition of the Emu field area is that low levels of surface radioactivity extend to an area of about 10 square kilometres. The highest levels there are considerably lower than the highest levels at Maralinga.