Nuclear Tests

HC Deb 31 October 1988 vol 139 cc518-25W

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the closest distance to ground zero experience by(a) scientific, (b) military, (c) non-scientific British civilian and (d) indigenous civilian personnel (i) wearing and (ii) not wearing protective clothing with and without film badges during British nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s;

(2) what was the closest distance to ground zero experienced by (a) scientific, (b) military, (c) nonscientific British civilian and (d) indigenous civilian personnel (i) wearing and (ii) not wearing protective clothing, with and without personal dosimeters during British nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s.

Mr. Sainsbury

The same type of personal film badge dosimeter was used throughout the test programme in the Pacific for all personnel to whom it was issued. Protective clothing was supplied and worn by personnel whose duties required or might have required them to enter areas in which loose radioactive material was or might be present. For the megaton tests at Christmas Island the closest distance any test personnel were located from the detonation point in the open was 28km. The number's at this location amounted to only a handful of radar operators. Some, mostly scientists with some service personnel, were located in protective shelters at a closer distance of 24km. The vast majority of test personnel and all of the indigenous population for all tests were located at a distance of 43km or more. For the tests at Malden Island, all of which were megaton, test personnel were at a distance of 44km or more. Malden Island had no indigenous population. For the kiloton range of tests at Christmas Island, the closest distance at which test personnel were located was 13km or more. All these locations were such that fall out from the detonations could not have affected personnel situated there.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which British nuclear tests in the Pacific during the 1950s radiation levels were not monitored(a) before, (b) during or (c) after the test.

Mr. Sainsbury

The levels of ionising radiation to which personnel were exposed were monitored by issuing radiation monitoring devices—personal film badge dosimeters—to those who were liable to be exposed before, during and after every United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear test in the Pacific. Throughout, the Pacific test series film badges were not issued to personnel whose duties were such that they were extremely unlikely to experience exposure to levels of radiation, other than naturally occurring background radiation. Some of those to whom film badges were issued also did not experience exposure to levels of radiation, other than naturally occurring background.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what type of weapon tests were undertaken on Christmas Island, between 25 March 1958 and 18 March 1959; what nuclear materials were involved; and at what height these explosions occurred;

(2) if he will release information on the megatonnage of nuclear test devices tested between 25 March 1958 and 18 March 1959;

(3) if he will release information on the megatonnage of all British nuclear devices tested in the 1950s and the 1960s;

Table 1 United Kingdom overseas atmospheric nuclear weapons tests 1952—58 Table 1(A) United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in Australia, October 1952-October 1957
Operation and location	Date and time (GMT-Z)	Site	Type	Height (metres)	Approximate yield (kilotons-kT)
Hurricane—Monte Bello Islands, Western Australia	3 October 1952 0000Z	Lagoon of 12 m depth	CSB in HMS plym	2.7	25
Totem—Emu Field, South Australia	14 October 1953 2130Z	T1	NSB MS Tower	31	10
	26 October 1953 2130Z	T2	NSB MS Tower	31	8
Mosaic—Monte Bello Islands, Western Australia	16 May 1956 0350Z	G1 Trimouille Island	NSB A1 Tower	31	15
	19 June 1956 0214Z	G2 Alpha Island	NSB A1 Tower	31	60
Buffalo—Maralinga Range, South Australia	27 September 1956 0730Z	One Tree	NSB A1 Tower	31	15
	4 October 1956 0700Z	Marcoo	CSB A1 ground surface	0.2	1.5
	11 October 1956 0557Z	Kite	Airburst Freefall	150	3
	21 October 1956 1435Z	Breakaway	NSB A1 Tower	31	10
Antler—Maralinga Range, South Australia	14 September 1957 0505Z	Tadje	NSB A1 Tower	31	1
	25 September 1957 0030Z	Biak	NSB A1 Tower	31	6
	9 October 1957 0645Z	Taranaki	Airburst Balloon—System Borne	300	25

Notes:

NSB—Near Surface Burst.

CSB—Contact Surface Burst.

MS—Mild Steel.

A1—Aluminium Alloy.

Table 1(B) United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear nuclear weapons tests in the South Pacific, May 1957-September 1958
Operation and location	Date and time (GMT-Z)	Site	Type	Height (metres)	Yield range
Grapple—Malden Island	15 May 1957 1937Z	Off-shore, South. Approximately 1.7 kilometres from land	Airburst Freefall	2,400	Megaton
	31 May 1957 1941Z	Off-shore, South. Approximately 1.7 kilometres from land	Airburst Freefall	2,300	Megaton
	19 June 1957 1940Z	Off-shore, South. Approximately 1.7 kilometres from land	Airburst Freefall	2,300	Megaton
Graple X—Christmas Island	8 November 1957 1747Z	Off-shore South East Point. Approximately 2.5 kilometres from land	Airburst Freefall	2,250	Megaton
Graple Y—Christmas Island	28 April 1958 1905Z	Off-shore South East Point. Approximately 2.5 kilometres from land	Airburst Freefall	2,350	Megaton
Graple Z—Christmas Island	22 August 1958 1800Z	Balloon site, South East Corner	Airburst Balloon—System Borne	450	Kiloton
	2 September 1958 1724Z	Off-shore South East Point. Approximately 2.5 kilometres from land	Airburst Freefall	2,850	Megaton

(4) if he will release information on the type of nuclear test and height of explosion for all British nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s and 1960s.

Mr. Sainsbury

The table describes the type of each test undertaken at or near Christmas Island and in Australia, the height at which the explosions took place and information concerning the yields. For security reasons, I am not able to provide detailed information on the nuclear materials involved in individual tests, but can say that the fissile materials used include plutonium 239 and uranium 235.

Operation and location	Date and time (GMT-Z)	Site	Type	Height (metres)	Yield range
	11 September 1958 1749Z	Off-shore South East Point. Approximately 2.5 kilometres from land	Airburst Freefall	2,650	Megaton
	23 September 1958 1800Z	Balloon site, South East Corner	Airburst Balloon—System Borne	450	Kiloton

Notes:

NSB—Near surface burst.

CSB—Contact surface burst.

Kiloton range—Between 1 and 1,000 kilotons.

Megaton range—Between a few hundred kilotons and several megatons.

The table is reproduced by kind permission of the compiler, Mr. W. N. Saxby and of the Director of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action he has taken to investigate the links between differing sorts of nuclear tests, such as fission and fusion, and the incidence of cancer amongst nuclear test veterans;

(2) what action he has taken to investigate the links between differing nuclear test megatonnages and cancer incidence amongst nuclear test veterans;

(3) if he has investigated the incidence of cancer afflicting British nuclear test veterans, relative to the length of time spent in the test areas;

(4) if he will investigate the incidence of cancers afflicting British nuclear test veterans, relative to the length of service of such veterans in test areas; and if he will provide such information, together with details of the types of cancers involved, to the House.

Mr. Sainsbury

The NRPB report examined whether associations between mortality or cancer incidence rates and various categories of participation could be identified using statistical analyses. The results are described fully in their report. They did not distinguish between fission and fusion tests or investigate whether length of service or length of time spent in a test area was significant or relate the data to the yields of individual tests. In examining these associations, what they did discover was that the principal concentration of leukaemia (excluding chronic lymphatic) and multiple myeloma was amongst men not present for a major trial nor known to have been involved with the programme of minor trials at Maralinga.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the personnel who served during British nuclear tests were identified for the purposes of the National Radiological Protection Board report; and what action is being taken to bring this figure up to 100 per cent. accuracy.

Mr. Sainsbury

Table 5.5 of the NRPB report shows that the best estimate of the proportion of personnel identified as participants was 83 per cent. overall, with the missing participants mainly confined to the Army (84 per cent. coverage) and the RAF (69 per cent.). Consideration is being given by the NRPB to improving coverage in both these groups during the follow-up study.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average length of service visits to nuclear test areas by military personnel during British nuclear tests in the Pacific.

Mr. Sainsbury

The records of the lengths of visits to nuclear test areas do not allow an accurate estimate to be made of the average. Service personnel posted to Christmas Island generally served there, or in the vicinity for about a year. Many service men, particularly RAF flying crews, paid only short visits depending on their duties.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the level of accuracy of detection and reporting of cancer incidence amongst British nuclear test veterans; and if he will take steps to improve and update this information.

Mr. Sainsbury

The methods by which the NRPB obtained data on mortality and incidence of cancer from the United Kingdom centralised record sources for the participants in the study are regarded as well established and reliable. The NRPB is continuing to receive data on those who have been identified as participants. I have no plans to seek improvements.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will release figures for cancer incidence amongst British nuclear test veterans, from 1983 to the last year for which figures are available;

(2) if he will make an annual report on cancer detection, incidence and cancer types involved, with regard to the continuing investigations of British nuclear test veterans' mortality and morbidity; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury

When the NRPB report was published, the NRPB recommended, and the Ministry of Defence agreed, that it would be appropriate to conduct a further follow-up study when data on mortality and cancer incidence among participants had been accumulated for a further 10 years from December 1983. The NRPB is continuing to receive data and will examine the position next year and from time to time thereafter, and will advise whether the major effort of a full-scale statistical exercise would be justified. I am not prepared to release the data until the NRPB has completed its validation and conducted its statistical analysis.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide the figures for the number of British military personnel present on Christmas Island in the years 1962 to 1967 inclusive, giving a total for each individual year.

Mr. Sainsbury

Apart from the small numbers of United Kingdom service personnel present during the United States Brigadoon series in 1962, shown as 344 in the NRPB report, only very small numbers of United Kingdom military personnel were present in subsequent years up to 1964 when the need for United Kingdom personnel to be present ceased.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a scrap value for military vehicles and other metallic objects, presently dumped on Christmas Island.

Mr. Sainsbury

There is no significant value of scrap material arising from the United Kingdom test programme now present at Christmas Island.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a figure for the number of British vehicles buried on Christmas Island; and what is their cumulative tonnage.

Mr. Sainsbury

I am not aware that any British vehicles were buried on Christmas Island.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the residual radiation levels detected at Maralinga for the years 1960, 1970 and 1980 or for the years nearest to these dates, whichever are available.

Mr. Sainsbury

The residual radiation levels at Maralinga for the years stated are:

	milliGrays per hour
1960	0.1
1970	0.03
1980	0.015
1988	0.01

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of competence and accuracy of devices used to detect radiation levels among British personnel serving in the Pacific during the 1950s; and how the effectiveness of such detection methods varied with regard to gamma, beta and alpha radiation particles.

Mr. Sainsbury

The personal film badge dosimeters used during the test programme to measure the levels of radiation to which personnel were exposed were virtually identical to those in use widely throughout the nuclear industry today. The results generally were given in terms of gamma exposure and in some cases of surface exposure with beta aggregated. The minimum recordable level generally varied from 0.2 to 0.5 mSv. Film badges were not used to record alpha particles. Numerous other radiation detectors were used to check radiation levels in order to exercise control of exposure to personnel in areas in which radioactive material might have been present. The competence and accuracy of these methods were fully in accord with contemporary standards.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the number of sea birds on Christmas Island since British nuclear tests.

Mr. Sainsbury

I understand that the survey conducted by the New Zealand Department of Health national radiological laboratory, Christchurch in 1981 did not make any reference to the sea bird population. I must therefore assume that it was neither unexpectedly low nor high. I have no other information on the subject.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of monitoring took place to safeguard against the contamination of freshwater supplies on Christmas Island, what levels of radiation were detected and what level of contamination was considered safe during British nuclear tests in the Pacific.

Mr. Sainsbury

The fresh water drinking supplies which were monitored, were drawn from treated surface water and no radioactivity associated with the tests was detected.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions British nuclear test veterans were entered into the documentary evidence of radiation contamination for each individual twice or more than twice; and what effect this has on the accuracy of these records.

Mr. Sainsbury

The original documentary evidence of exposure records was thoroughly examined by the NRPB during the course of its recently published study. Out of a total of 1,804 individuals thought to have been exposed, the NRPB checked the original material for the 349 whose total recorded doses exceeded 10mSv. They found discrepancies of more than 0.5mSv in a total of 19 cases. The effect of correcting these errors was to reduce their collective dose by 5 per cent. These errors may have been as a result of multiple entries, transcription faults or other inadvertent mistakes.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original purpose of the documentary evidence of radiation contamination for each individual; and whether individual nuclear test veterans will be permitted to have access to their own records within it.

Mr. Sainsbury

The requirement to record the radiation exposure of individuals arose from legislation, currently incorporated in the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985, governing the use of radioactive materials and work involving ionising radiation. Individuals are entitled under suitable privacy arrangements to receive information on their dose records.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on compensation payments made to United States nuclear test veterans due to their medical conditions arising from contamination by radioactive materials during American nuclear tests in the 1950s.

Mr. Sainsbury

I am aware of the United States legislation—Radiation Exposed Veterans Compensation Act of 1988, which came into force on 1 May 1988—regarding compensation to veterans. I have no information as to payments made under this legislation.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the current condition and contamination levels of Monte Bello and Emu.

Mr. Sainsbury

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 26 July at column232.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how film badges were used to monitor radiation levels; whether badges were coded to individual service personnel; what proportion of the film badges went missing, for whatever reason; and what quantity of film badges were issued to military personnel during British nuclear tests in the Pacific.

Mr. Sainsbury

Each personal film badge dosimeter issued to an individual was coded so that the exposure measured could be entered in his record. Although the proportion of badges which went missing was very small indeed, standard techniques for assessing exposure, such as using exposures measured for accompanying personnel, were applied to ensure that the record of exposure for all exposed individuals was as complete as possible. The precise total number of badges issued during the operation cannot be ascertained, but it is known that during the whole test series in the Pacific, at least 500 personnel were subject to their issue. Since many of these would have received two badges, the total issued was probably in excess of 1,000.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent his Department is able to ascertain where any named individual was placed at the time of a particular detonation during the 1958 to 1959 Christmas Island tests; what is his policy on responding to correspondence from nuclear test veterans seeking assurances as to their exposure to residual radiation; and if he will make a statement on his Department's correspondence with Mr. A. Dickson on this matter.

Mr. Sainsbury

The test records of the locations of personnel at the time of each detonation do not extend to a comprehensive list of the names of all individuals at each location. It may be possible to establish where some individuals were located from these records, or by inference establish the location of members of particular groups where the record shows where that group was located. However, the locations were all recorded and their distance from "ground zone" is known.

Individuals are entitled to the information contained in their own personal radiation dose record if one exists. If no dose was recorded, their duties were unlikely to have exposed them to radiation other than natural background.

Mr. A. Dickson has conducted an exchange of correspondence with this Department. It has included information about his exposure to radiation, and his probable location during the tests which he witnessed.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual level of mortality among British military personnel serving in the Pacific in each year since 1958; and what were the causes of those mortalities.

Mr. Sainsbury

The mortality rates for all test participants were examined by the NRPB in its recent study. Since the report does not itemise annual levels since 1958 and the analysis of the reported causes was not done on a year-to-year basis, I cannot supply the information which the hon. Member seeks.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many post-mortems were carried out annually among British military personnel serving in the Pacific in each year since 1958.

Mr. Sainsbury

The information about the number of post-mortems carried out annually since 1958 is not available.