HC Deb 03 April 1990 vol 170 cc590-1W
24. Mr. Buckley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken following studies on radiation exposure in the Ministry of Defence work force since 1978.

72. Mr. John Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken following studies on radiation exposure in the Ministry of Defence work force since 1978.

74. Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken following studies on radiation exposure in the Ministry of Defence work force since 1978.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken following studies on radiation exposure in the Ministry of Defence work force since 1978.

Mr. Neubert

In the 11 years since 1978 radiation exposures have been kept under continuous review to ensure exposures are authorised only on the basis that they are justified, comply with statutory limits, and areas low as reasonably practicable

(ALARP). This review is MOD policy and will continue.

Mr. McAvoy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has considered any recent studies on the effects of radiation upon individuals and their children; and what implications these may have for armed service personnel and defence workers involved in nuclear defence.

39. Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has considered any recent studies on the effects of radiation upon individuals and their children; and what implications these may have for armed service personnel and defence workers involved in nuclear defence.

63. Mr. Ray Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has considered any recent studies on the effects of radiation upon individuals and their children; and what implications these may have for armed service personnel and defence workers involved in nuclear defence.

103. Ms. Quin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has considered any recent studies on the effects of radiation upon individuals and their children; and what implications these may have for armed service personnel and defence workers involved in nuclear defence.

Mr. Neubert

We have noted the preliminary advice on the Gardner study given to the Department of Health by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). We accept COMARE's view that it is not possible for it to make specific recommendations on reducing risks until the results of other studies are known and there is further information on possible causal mechanisms.

The Ministry of Defence will, therefore, continue its current policy of authorising exposures to armed service personnel and defence workers only on the basis that they are justified, comply with MOD and statutory limits, and are as low as reasonably practicable

(ALARP).

Dr. Owen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in the royal dockyards in(a) Plymouth and (b) Rosyth have had more than a 100 milliSieverts lifetime dose since 1979.

Mr. Neubert

There are currently 96 employees at Devonport and 136 at Rosyth who have radiation dose records maintained by the approved dosimetry service (the defence radiological protection service), showing cumulative or lifetime radiation exposures in excess of 100 milliSieverts since the date of first starting radiation work.