HC Deb 15 March 1990 vol 169 cc333-4W
Mr. John Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals have received, in the last two decades, consecutive or separate annual radiation doses of more than 15 milliSieverts; and what is the total radiation dose, including doses of less than 15 milliSieverts, sustained by those workers.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

[holding answer 5 March 1990] : Records for radiation workers at the atomic weapons establishments are held separately from those for other Ministry of Defence radiation workers.

During the 17 years that AWE has been under the control of the Ministry of Defence, 91 individuals sustained attributable exposures to penetrating radiation determined to have been 15 mSv or more in each of one or more calendar years. The total attributable radiation exposure for all these individuals was approximately 15 person-sieverts.

Figures for other MOD radiation workers are readily available only for the period 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1989, when 1,484 individuals sustained attributable exposures to penetrating radiation determined to have been 15 mSv or more in each of one or more calendar years. The total attributable radiation exposure for all these individuals, based on a sample of 100, was approximately 143 person-sieverts.

Mr. John Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear submariners have received radiation doses of more than 15 milliSieverts in two or more consecutive years, for the last two decades to the latest available date; if he will specify in ranges of 5 milliSieverts the doses into which those nuclear submarine personnel fall; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

[holding answer 5 March 1990]: In the period for which figures are readily available—1 January 1979 to 31 December 1989–60 naval personnel received radiation doses in excess of 15 milliSieverts per annum in two or more consecutive years. No naval personnel have received such consecutive doses for more than four years.

The 5 mSv ranges of lifetime radiation dose into which these individuals fall are shown in the table:

Ranges Dose
30–35 1
35–40 1
40–45 1
45–50 0
50–55 2
55–60 3
60–65 5
65–70 5
70–75 3
75–80 5
80–85 2
85–90 5
90–95 1
95–100 1
100–105 2
105–110 4

Ranges Dose
110–115 2
115–120 1
120–125 2
125–130 6
130–135 1
135–140 0
140–145 0
145–150 0
150–155 1
155–160 1
160–165 1
165–170 0
170–175 1
175–180 0
180–185 0
185–190 1
190–195 1
195–200 0
200–205 1

Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals at CSB Faslane have been subjected to a total exposure to radiation of 10 milliSieverts over a period of six months in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Radiation dose data are not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.