HC Deb 27 October 1992 vol 212 c535W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to invite in European Commission inspectors to evaluate radiation monitoring standards under article 35 of the Euratom treaty, at British Nuclear Fuels plants at Sellafield, Springfields, Capenhurst and Chapelcross.

Mr. Maclean

United Kingdom officials have agreed with officials of the European Commission the procedures to be followed in carrying out under article 35 of the Euratom treaty verifications of the operation and efficiency of environmental monitoring facilities in the United Kingdom. It is for the Commission to indicate in which areas it would like to undertake such a verification visit. The United Kingdom has not yet received a formal request from the Commission in respect of any specific area.

Smoke SO2
Year commencing Median 98th percentile Median 98th percentile
April 1980 20 (29 per cent.) 104 (49 percent.) 52 (43 per cent.) 163 (47 per cent.)
April 1981 20 (34 per cent.) 86 (40 per cent.) 57 (48 per cent.) 195 (56 per cent.)
April 1982 9 (13 per cent.) 43 (20 per cent.) 65 (54 per cent.) 141 (40 per cent.)
April 1983 8 (12 per cent.) 58 (27 per cent.) 50 (42 per cent.) 180 (51 per cent.)
April 1984 15 (22 per cent.) 38 (18 per cent.) 44 (37 per cent.) 140 (40 per cent.)
April 1985 16 (24 per cent.) 57 (27 per cent.) 55 (46 per cent.) 125 (36 per cent.)
April 1986 13 (19 per cent.) 44 (21 per cent.) 50 (42 per cent.) 110 (31 per cent.)
April 1987 18 (26 per cent.) 73 (34 per cent.) 46 (38 per cent.) 94 (27 per cent.)

Note: All values are in micrograms per cubic metre and the smoke concentrations are to the British standard calibration. The percentages in brackets relate to the relevant EC directive limit value.

In 1986, diffusion tube measurements of nitrogen dioxide at the Stratford site gave an average concentration of 32.2ppb—parts per billion—for the period July to December. The average for the whole of Greater London for the same period was 27ppb. When the study was repeated in 1991, only two months of data were obtained for this site, and the average concentration for this limited period was found to be 35ppb.

The London borough of Newham has agreed to participate in a new long-term study of nitrogen dioxide, using diffusion tube samplers, currently being organised by the Department in conjunction with local authorities. Four measurement sites will be established in the borough in January 1993 as part of this survey.