§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further tests of hill lambs for radioactivity resulting from Chernobyl have been taken in the past year; what have been the results; and what action he is taking as a result.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 30 January 1989]: Information on the level of radioactivity in sheep in Scotland resulting from the Chernobyl accident is published on a regular basis by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. The measured levels of radiocaesium in live sheep tested in 1988 in those areas in which restrictions on the movement and slaughter of sheep are in force range from 53 becquerels per kilogram to 3,683 becquerels per kilogram. Readings taken from sheep in slaughterhouses throughout Scotland in 1988 range from 2 becquerels per kilogram to 145 becquerels per kilogram. The mark and release arrangements ensure that sheep which may be contaminated to levels above the 1,000 becquerels per kilogram safety level may not be removed from the restricted areas unless they are painted the appropriate colour and that such sheep may not be slaughtered unless they are marked with a tag to show that they are below this level. 836W Monitoring and the related restrictions are designed to protect the public from the risk of eating sheep meat contaminated to an unacceptably high level and they will continue until it has been demonstrated that there is no longer any cause for concern in this respect.