HC Deb 07 February 1989 vol 146 cc612-4W
Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update to include 1988 his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas),Official Report, 27 July 1988, columns 247–48, about the number of incidents involving the loss of radioactive materials in transit.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 15 December at column 660.

On 26 September 1988 the Antigua-registered vessel Ardlough sank off the North Wales coast. A small quantity (50MBq) of Californium 252 was lost. There were no significant radiological consequences.

Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his reply,Official Report, 24 January, column 466, to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford, he will set out the form in which consignors of radioactive materials by air must satisfy in advance his Department that the arrangements comply with international regulations; and if he will list any instances when permission has been declined.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Consignors whose package designs require approval must submit detailed safety reports to the Department of Transport for assessment against the provisions of the International Atomic Energy Agency regulations. They are notified of any shortcomings and given the opportunity to remedy them before resubmitting their case for reassessment. A copy of the Department's "Guide to Applications for Competent Authority Approval of Package Designs, Shipments and Special Form Material" has been sent to the hon. Member for information.

Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford,Official Report, 24 January, column 466, the International Atomic Energy Agency special review of international nuclear materials transport was begun; what evidence, and in what form, has been submitted by the United Kingdom; and when he expects the special review to be completed.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The review began in March 1988. The United Kingdom is represented on the review committee and the recently published report by the Advisory Committee on the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material on the transport of plutonium by air was submitted to a technical meeting in December 1988. The recommendations and the need for further work will be considered by the standing advisory group of the International Atomic Energy Agency in April 1989.

Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what transport licence arrangements exist to cover the transport of(a) nuclear materials from atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston to atomic energy research establishment Harwell for processing and (b) nuclear materials from atomic energy research establishment Harwell to atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston for processing; and what liaison arrangements exist between his Department and the international safeguards authorities at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and EURATOM in Luxembourg over such transport.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The safety procedures observed by the Ministry of Defence in the transport of nuclear materials are no less stringent than those required of civil operators.

They comply with the internationally agreed standards set by the IAEA. Liaison arrangements concerning international safeguards are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.