§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has regarding the effect of gamma and neutron radiation upon food stocks on board Pacific nuclear transport vessels carrying spent nuclear fuel.
§ Mr. McLoughlinFood is stored in the accommodation area situated at the stern of the ship, distant from the cargo. The design of these ships is such that there is no measurable difference in radiation from background levels where the food is stored.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will commission a study into the short, medium and long-term health effects of gamma and neutron radiation upon seafarers working on United Kingdom registered ships carrying spent nuclear fuel;
(2) if he will commission a study of the potential adverse health effects of being crew members on board ships carrying spent nuclear fuel.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMy Department commissioned the National Radiological Protection Board to study the radiation doses arising from the sea transport of radioactive materials, including spent fuel. The study was completed in 1988, and the main results presented during an international symposium on the packaging and transportation of radioactive materials held last year. These showed that the doses to which seafarers were exposed were well below recommended limits.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the emergency planning arrangements for ship-to-shore-to-ship communications in the event of a ship2W carrying spent nuclear fuel to the United Kingdom being involved in a serious incident involving the release of significant radiation.
§ Mr. McLoughlinAdequate arrangements already exist for distress communications within the United Kingdom search and rescue region, for ship-to-shore-to-ship communication. We keep in close touch with BNFL's emergency planning arrangements and I have no reason to doubt the adequacy of the modern systems that would be used to communicate with any ship involved in a more distant incident of this kind.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the radiation protection standards for workers handling spent nuclear fuel in transport in the United States of America.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe radiation protection standards for workers worldwide are based on the recommendations of the International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) publication No. 26. I understand that these apply to all classes of radiation workers in the United States of America.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the radiation protection standards for workers handling spent nuclear fuel in transport in Scotland.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Ionising Radiations Regulations and their approved code of practice apply to all workers handling radioactive materials and contain the requirements to ensure the necessary standards of safety.