HC Deb 08 December 1992 vol 215 cc596-7W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will obtain a copy of the report prepared by the Japanese Government's Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industries on the sea transport of plutonium.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: The Department has no information about this report.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he has taken of the vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg in November based on documents B3–0868/92, 0–163/92 and B3–0869/92, 0–164/ 92 on the international transport of plutonium; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: The international transport of plutonium by all modes is governed by the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which are kept under continuous review.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what kinds of vessels or other kinds of transport are used for the maritime transport of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive waste to and from, or by, the United Kingdom; and what monitoring his Department carries out of the transport patterns for the movement of such materials.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: Ships complying fully with international convention standards for safety and pollution prevention are used for the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel. No plutonium or high-level radioactive wastes have been transported to or from the United Kingdom except for small quantities of plutonium used for life-support systems such as energy sources for heart pacemakers. Transport patterns are not monitored by the Department.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the full text of the governmental studies of analyses of the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium or high-level radioactive waste produced since December 1991.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: No such studies have been carried out.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the submissions made by the United Kingdom to the joint International Atomic Energy Agency—International Maritime Organisation—United Nations Environment Programme working group have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: There were no United Kingdom Government submissions.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the standard operations of maritime transport carrying irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium or high-level radioactive waste to and from, or by, the United Kingdom; and what accident rate for such operations has been recorded in each year since 1982.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: Of the United Kingdom-registered ships known to carry such cargo there was one incident recorded in 1991 which directly concerned handling operations and which falls within the scope of the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations 1989. Records of incidents prior to the establishment of the marine accident investigation branch in July 1989 are not fully comprehensive. However, there are no known cases of serious incidents involving such cargo and operations between 1982 and mid-1989.