§ Mr. Jack ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that the arrangements for a police escort for the road transportation of nuclear products are rigorously enforced; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeMovements of radioactive materials by road must comply with the Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1974 and Amendment Regulations 1985.
There is no requirement in these regulations for police escorts to accompany the road transport of radioactive materials.
§ Mr. Jack ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many journeys involving the transport of nuclear waste there were on the road system in Northumberland in the years 1988, 1989, 1990, and the first three months in the current year;
(2) how many times nuclear waste has been transported along the A1 between British Nuclear Fuels, Sellafield, Cumbria, and Dounreay, Scotland; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many times nuclear waste has been transported along the A69 between British Nuclear Fuels, Sellafield, Cumbria, and Dounreay, Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jack ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the numbers and dates of road accidents on the A69 involving the transportation of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeThere have been no accidents reportable under the Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1974 involving vehicles carrying radioactive materials, but I am aware of a minor road traffic accident at Hexham on 19 April this year to a vehicle carrying miscellaneous items which included a package of low-level nuclear waste. This did not cause any damage to the package or its contents.