§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what special means there is of shielding, blocking or attenuating the neutron emission from the Chevaline warhead during storage; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what special means there are of shielding, blocking or attenuating the neutron emission from the Chevaline warhead during transportation to and from the royal naval armaments depot at Coulport to and from the Royal Ordnance factory at Burghfield; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 24 May 1990]: No special measures beyond the laid down working procedures and MOD's normal radiological protection practices are necessary.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which component of the Chevaline warhead assembly gives rise to the neutron emission radiation dose equivalent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 24 May 1990]: The fissile material within the warhead assembly.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average recorded or assessed neutron radiation dose equivalent exposure received by members of the general public due to the road transportation of the Chevaline warhead on any one journey or throughout any transit period; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 24 May 1990]: Attributable doses to members of the public from warheads involved in transport operations are zero.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average recorded or assessed neutron radiation dose equivalent exposure received by road transportation personnel during carriage of the Chevaline warhead on any one journey or throughout any transit period; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 24 May 1990]: Attributable doses to transportation personnel from the Chevaline warhead during carriage on any one journey or throughout any transit period are zero.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any neutron emission radiation dose equivalent exposure has been recorded for personnel at(a) Royal Ordnance factory, Llanishen, (b) atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, (c) Royal Ordnance factory, Burghfield, and (d) the facility at Donnington; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 24 May 1990]: There are low levels of neutron exposure to some workers in the atomic weapons establishment stations at Aldermaston and Burghfield, but not at the other locations. These are determined and recorded and the consequential effective (whole body) dose equivalents are such that the total doses sustained by the individuals from radiations arising from their work activities are within the relevant MOD and United Kingdom limits and are as low as reasonably practicable.