Plutonium (Transport) (Hansard, 9 March 1988)

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if any studies have been conducted by his Department into the environmental contamination implications of an aeroplane carrying plutonium canisters to or from Dounreay nuclear power development establishment crashing into the sea between Caithness and the Orkneys.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
The evidence submitted by British Nuclear Fuels to the European demonstration reprocessing plant (EDRP) inquiry at Dounreay showed that in the event of an air crash in the sea there would be no release of radioactivity.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many voyages take place each month of ships transporting plutonium from or to the Dounreay nuclear power development establishment via the Minches to or from British Nuclear Fuels plc's Sellafield site.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
These movements are in full compliance with national regulations based on the recommendations of the International Maritime Organisation, which do not depend for their effectiveness on a particular route, and do not require individual authorisation. I understand that since the start of this traffic in June 1981 there have been 21 movements of plutonium nitrate from Dounreay to Sellafield, the

(a) Expenditure on maintenance¹ of national roads 1979–80 to 1987–88

(£ million cash)

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 ³1987–88

England

Eastern 8 14 17 25 18 24 25 37 34

East Midlands 15 11 21 30 27 34 31 36 32

London 8 8 8 7 6 9 8 13 15

Northern 7 3 6 7 4 5 6 9 7

North West 9 15 21 32 33 34 29 35 45

South East 7 7 18 20 23 31 34 40 54

South West 10 13 15 20 16 21 17 24 22

West Midlands 11 23 31 27 28 27 15 32 28

Yorkshire and Humberside 7 10 20 25 24 27 17 27 45

Total for England 82 104 157 193 179 212 182 ²253 282

Scotland 15 18 30 27 34 29 31 35 39

Wales 11 10 20 17 19 22 38 35 33

Northern Ireland⁴ 36 38 43 40 48 50 56 55 56

Total for United Kingdom 144 170 250 277 280 313 307 378 410

¹ Maintenance covers structural, routine and winter maintenance of the carriageway (excluding bridges), both capital and current. (A different capital/current distinction applies to local roads expenditure).

² Provisional outturn.

³ Estimated outturns.

⁴ All roads in Northern Ireland.

(b)Expenditure on maintenance¹ of local roads 1979–80 to 1987–88

(£ million cash)

²1979–80 ²1980–81 ²1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 ³1987–88

England

Eastern — — — 91 96 100 109 115 130

East Midlands — — — 72 72 76 79 82 88

London — — — 130 140 154 150 145 155

206W
discharged flasks being returned to Dounreay by the same route. Certain categories of waste are also transported from Sellafield to Dounreay by sea.

(a) Expenditure on maintenance¹ of national roads 1979–80 to 1987–88
(£ million cash)
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	³1987–88
England
Eastern	8	14	17	25	18	24	25	37	34
East Midlands	15	11	21	30	27	34	31	36	32
London	8	8	8	7	6	9	8	13	15
Northern	7	3	6	7	4	5	6	9	7
North West	9	15	21	32	33	34	29	35	45
South East	7	7	18	20	23	31	34	40	54
South West	10	13	15	20	16	21	17	24	22
West Midlands	11	23	31	27	28	27	15	32	28
Yorkshire and Humberside	7	10	20	25	24	27	17	27	45
Total for England	82	104	157	193	179	212	182	²253	282
Scotland	15	18	30	27	34	29	31	35	39
Wales	11	10	20	17	19	22	38	35	33
Northern Ireland⁴	36	38	43	40	48	50	56	55	56
Total for United Kingdom	144	170	250	277	280	313	307	378	410
¹ Maintenance covers structural, routine and winter maintenance of the carriageway (excluding bridges), both capital and current. (A different capital/current distinction applies to local roads expenditure).
² Provisional outturn.
³ Estimated outturns.
⁴ All roads in Northern Ireland.

(b)Expenditure on maintenance¹ of local roads 1979–80 to 1987–88
(£ million cash)
	²1979–80	²1980–81	²1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	³1987–88
England
Eastern	—	—	—	91	96	100	109	115	130
East Midlands	—	—	—	72	72	76	79	82	88
London	—	—	—	130	140	154	150	145	155