HC Deb 14 November 1988 vol 140 cc500-1W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many personnel are employed by RIMNET.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The core of the RIMNET team consists of three people. Other managerial staff are involved as appropriate.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many incidents have been detected by RIMNET;

(2) how serious an incident has to be before RIMNET makes it public;

(3) to whom RIMNET reports;

(4) what parts of the United Kingdom come within RIMNET's monitoring remit; and which areas are excluded;

(5) what action is taken by RIMNET when an abnormally high level of radiation is detected;

(6) what level of radiation is regarded by RIMNET as being abnormally high.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his request for a general statement regarding RIMNET.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is RIMNET's budget.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The provision for RIMNET in the current financial year is £2 million.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of the radiation incident monitoring network.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible for the operation of the national radiation incident monitoring network, designed to handle future overseas nuclear incidents.

As I stated in my previous reply of 28 October at column 428, the 46 monitoring stations throughout the United Kingdom, became operational in June and are now feeding data to London. We hope to accept the associated computer and telecommunications system for phase 1 of RIMNET from the contractor shortly. RIMNET will automatically trigger an alert if radiation rises above the normal background level at one or more of the monitoring stations. This background level will vary from station to station. No incidents have yet been detected. The procedures for responding to an alert, which involve informing interested organisations and the public, are included within the national response plan details of which are set out in the Department of the Environment booklet. "The National Response Plan and Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET). A Statement of Proposals" published by the HMSO, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Terry Fields

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has ascertained the sources of reports of a radioactive cloud over the north-west of the United Kingdom on Friday 28–29 October; what steps were taken to check any probable source of radiation; what level of monitoring is currently undertaken in this as against other parts of the country; if he will consider 24-hour monitoring as an alternative to the Government's RIMNET system; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

No releases of radioactivity to the environment have been either notified to or detected by the Department. When operational, phase 1 of the RIMNET system will provide 24-hour monitoring at some 40 sites. Abnormal levels of radiation in the environment reported to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution are always investigated.