Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what role the United Kingdom plays in providing expertise and information in support of the joint venture programme, the international nuclear event scale project,718W by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's nuclear energy agency.
§ Mr. BaldryThe United Kingdom has played a key role in the establishment of the international event scale (INES). This scale was developed under the joint auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the OECD's Nuclear Energy Agency by an international committee chaired by a United Kingdom expert from Nuclear Electric. All operators of the United Kingdom's civil nuclear installations have been consulted throughout the development of the scale.
The United Kingdom has agreed to participate in a trial period of application of INES which will begin this autumn and will last for around 12 months. When in full use, INES will provide a means for promptly communicating to the public, in consistent terms, the safety significance of events reported at nuclear power plants. By putting events into proper perspective, the scale can facilitate a common understanding between participating countries, the nuclear industry, the media and the public. It should significantly reduce the risk of misunderstandings and help to pre-empt speculation in the media and elsewhere.
I am arranging for further details of the scale to be placed in the Library of the House.