Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many radioactive leakages there have been at Sellafield in the current year; and if he will make a statement about the leakage reported on Friday 7 October.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThere have been three incidents at Sellafield this year in which small amounts of radioactive material have been detected. All three occurred within buildings at the plant. One of them was the specific incident to which the hon. Member refers. The leak penetrated the soil below the building and has since been stopped. There was no over-exposure to any member of the work force and there was no risk to the public.
All three incidents were reported to my Department in accordance with the revised reporting arrangements announced by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy on 30 April 1987, columns 203–204.
The incidents were also reported to the nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive and to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.
1022WDetails of all such incidents are included in British Nuclear Fuel plc's regular Sellafield Newsletter, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.