§ Mr. MartlewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of times his Ministry has reassessed habit surveys of members of the public around each nuclear establishment in each of the last 10 years, with the aim of identifying the most exposed members of the public; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe habit surveys around nuclear establishments carried out by my Ministry in each of the past 10 years were as follows:
- 1979—Nine Surveys
- Berkeley/Oldbury, Hunterston, Sellafield (Four surveys), Springfields, Winfrith, Whitehaven
- 1980—One Survey
- Bradwell
- 1981—Four Surveys
- Sellafield, Trawsfynydd, Sizewell, Wylfa
- 1982—Four Surveys
- Chapelcross, Sellafield (Three surveys), Springfields
- 1983—Three Surveys
- Heysham, Sellafield, Springfields
- 1984—Four Surveys
- Hartlepool, Sellafield, Springfields, Torness
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- 1985—Four Surveys
- Dounreay, Sellafield, Springfields, Winfrith
- 1986—Seven Surveys
- Cardiff, Dounreay, Dungeness, Hinkley Point, Sellafield
- (Two surveys), Springfields
- 1987—Six Surveys
- Trawsfynydd, Hunterston, Sellafield (Four surveys)
- 1988—10 Surveys
- Wylfa, Rosyth, Sellafield (Five surveys), Springfields, Loch
- Dee, Winfrith
Environmental exposure pathways and their significance are liable to change and the habit survey programme is therefore kept under continual review. Surveys are repeated at intervals, the frequency depending on the level of radiation exposure involved and possible changes in habits.