HC Deb 22 October 1990 vol 178 cc86-7W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the serious toxic contamination caused by the dispersal of beryllium oxide after the accident at the Ulbinsky metallurgical factory in Ust Kamenogorsk, in the Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan in September, he will review the present safety of facilities operated by, or contracted to, his Department that use beryllium.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The recent reported incident in Kazakhstan is understood to have involved a production process in which beryllium metal is obtained from ores. Such processes are not carried out at any United Kingdom facilities operated by, or contracted to, the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all defence facilities where beryllium is stored, fabricated or fashioned for military purposes; and when the assessment under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 was conducted at each such establishment.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Beryllium is used at the atomic weapons establishment sites at Aldermaston, Burghfield and Cardiff. Safety assessments, as required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, have recently been completed for all beryllium facilities within those sites.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with his Soviet counterpart regarding health and safety procedures in beryllium machining plants for weapons applications since the fire and explosion at Ust Kamenogorsk.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

None. I understand that the recent reported incident in Kazakhstan involved a production process in which beryllium metal is obtained from ores. Such processes are not carried out at any United Kingdom facilities operated by, or contracted to, the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with Hunting-BRAE as the nominated contractor for managing the atomic weapons research establishments regarding the appropriate health and safety procedures for the safe machining of beryllium since the fire and explosion at Ust Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, USSR.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

None. I understand that the recent reported incident in Kazakhstan involved a production process in which beryllium metal is obtained from ores. Such processes are not carried out at any United Kingdom facilities operated by, or contracted to, the Ministry of Defence. The atomic weapons establishment management contract requires that established health and safety procedures are fully adhered to at Cardiff and all other atomic weapons establishment sites.