§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his present policy in respect of the use of as low as reasonably achievable and best practical means guidelines to determine acceptable radioactive discharge levels to the marine environment.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Government's policy is to keep radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA), taking account of economic and social factors. Operators discharging radioactivity to the marine environment are required not only to comply with any numerical limits laid down by the regulatory authorities, but are also placed under an obligation to use the best practicable means (BPM) to limit further the amount of radioactivity discharged.