§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list results for the radioactive monitoring of(a) deer, and (b) goats for each year since April 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 19 May 1989]: There is regular monitoring of venison in dealers' stores on an all-Scotland basis. Goatmeat is not consumed in significant quantities and we have accordingly not thought it necessary to institute a programme of monitoring of this meat.
The results of the monitoring of samples of venison are set out in the table:
Venison (Becquerels per Kilo Cs 134 + Cs 137) 0–500 500–1,000 1,000–2,000 Over 2,000 1986 50 9 5 1 1987 113 28 13 2 1988 100 4 1 — These results do not give cause for concern since a person would require to eat more than 40 kg of venison at a level of radiation of 2,000 Bq/kg to come near to the levels at which, under international recommendation, action to restrict consumption should be considered.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he is issuing concerning the safety of eating venison contaminated with radioactivity; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 19 May 1989]: The levels of radioactivity in venison, coupled with the relatively low consumption of this meat by the general public, do not warrant advice against eating venison being given to the public at large.
It is conceivable that a small number of forestry, estate and other workers, might eat large amounts of venison at the top end of the radiation levels identified. Even at that level the risk would be very small indeed. An individual would have to eat about 40 kg of venison a year at a level of 2,000 Bq/kg to come near to the levels of dose at which, under international recommendation, action to restrict consumption should be considered.
Advice was issued in 1987 and 1988 to forestry, estate workers and others eating venison in quantities considerably higher than average on a regular basis that they might wish to consider eating less venison as a precautionary measure.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what measures he is taking to ensure that radioactive(a) goatmeat, and (b) venison are not entering the food chain; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 19 May 1989]: Not much goatmeat is eaten in Scotland, the goat population mainly being kept to supply milk and fibre. Most goats are kept on low ground and inbye land where radioactive caesium from Chernobyl fallout is not readily available for ingestion by grazing animals. Accordingly no specific measures relating to the consumption of goatmeat are considered necassary.
Regular samples are taken of venison in dealers' stores on an all-Scotland basis so that the levels of radioactivity in venison destined for human consumption may be 410W monitored. No unacceptably high levels of radioactivity have been detected in this continuing monitoring programme.