§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that discharges of plutonium into the Irish Sea represent a risk to life or health; and whether they plan to limit such discharges.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Chief Inspector of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution issue authorisations to BNFL to discharge radioactive waste into the Irish Sea from their operation at Sellafield. Discharges of plutonium are specifically limited in the authorisations. All exposures are well within national and internationally recommended limits to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. The Ministry carries out a thorough monitoring programme and a report of a recent review of radioactivity in the Irish Sea is in the Library of the House.