§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incidents of radioactive contamination have occurred since 1979 involving the import of foreign spent fuel into British ports and subsequent road and rail transport to Sellafield or Dounreay.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 13 May 1991]: During the period 1979 to the present day there has been only one reported incident of radioactive contamination involving the import of foreign spent fuel. This occurred in January 1991 and involved a shipment of irradiated test reactor fuel from India to Dounreay. The level of contamination on both the spent fuel flask and the transport frame was found to be low but nevertheless, the frame was removed to the Atomic Energy Authority establishment at Harwell to be decontaminated. It has since been returned to use.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions each year since 1979 irradiated test reactor fuel from Harwell has been transported by road to Dounreay; what safeguards provisions covered the fuel in transit; and whether any accident has taken place in the road transport of nuclear materials from Harwell to Dounreay.
§ Mr. Chope[holding answer 13 May 1991]: During the period 1979 to the present day there have been 99 such movements as follows:
Shipments per year Year Total 1979 8 1980 10 1981 12 1982 6 1983 9 1984 0 1985 10 1986 13 1987 4 1988 10 1989 7 1990 10 1991 0 The fuel in transit was subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom/International Atomic Energy Authority/Euratom safeguards agreement.
There have been no accidents reportable under the Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations 1974—SI No. 1735—during this period, but I am aware of two minor road traffic accidents, neither of which involved any injuries to people or damage to the flasks or their contents.