HC Deb 05 February 1991 vol 185 c88W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration the nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive has given to the circumstances surrounding the death of David Dunn, a former employee at the Sellafield nuclear power plant.

Mr. Forth

The conditions attached to the nuclear site licence for Sellafield at the time of Mr. Dunn's employment required the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate to be informed if any person was exposed to radiation in excess of the annual statutory limits. The nuclear installations inspectorate would examine the circumstances of the exposure and see whether any improvements to safety could be identified. There was no indication from Mr. Dunn's radiation dose record to suggest that he had exceeded statutory limits and consequently no information concerning his case was given to the nuclear installations inspectorate at the time.

During 1990 the nuclear installations inspectorate became aware of Mr. Dunn's case. The circumstances of his employment and his radiation dose record were examined by the nuclear installations inspectorate and technical assistance to Her Majesty's coroner was given at the inquest into Mr. Dunn's death, which was held at Whitehaven on 26 June 1990.